The chances of Darwin Nunez playing in a Liverpool jersey for the upcoming campaign are negligible.

The Uruguayan striker is a priority target for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, and he’s been anticipated to be heading for the exit on Merseyside for much of 2025, having only been started once in the Premier League by Arne Slot since Boxing Day.

While Liverpool have prepared for this eventuality through the initial £69m acquisition of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, FSG are hungry for more quality in the final third.

The Reds romped their way to the Premier League title last term, but fell short across the season’s offshoots. Slot will be hoping to change that.

And what better way to add enough firepower than to sign Alexander Isak?

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

Last week, Liverpool lodged a formal £110m offer for Newcastle United’s star striker. It was rejected, and the Toon seemed to feel rather aggrieved that such a figure had been tabled when they have made it clear his departure would only come about following a record-breaking offer.

Liverpool broke the British transfer record when signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m in June, after all.

It’s since been reported that sporting director Richard Hughes will bid again for the Sweden international, though everything hinges on the Tynesiders being able to identify and sign a suitable replacement.

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is at the top of their shopping list, but Manchester United are also pushing to sign the number nine, and there’s no telling which way that saga will swing at this stage.

Though Isak is a world-class footballer and would be the cream of an extraordinary transfer window for Liverpool, he’s not the only incoming Slot yet wishes to bring through the door.

Liverpool preparing new offer

As per Football Insider, Liverpool are preparing to make an offer for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, having registered their interest earlier in the transfer window.

Guehi has entered the final year of his and is understood to be a top target for the Anfield side this summer, with Slot lacking depth in central defence.

Newcastle United are also determined to sign the Three Lions star, who is valued at £50m. Due to his contract situation, FSG are unwilling to meet this figure.

Why Liverpool must sign Marc Guehi

While we’re on the topic, Newcastle have suffered a rather sobering transfer window thus far, missing out on a slew of top targets. Howe is no doubt simmering, not least because Liverpool continue to press for his side’s all-inspiring talisman.

But he might yet be foiled in his attempts for a mood-lifting arrival once again, with Liverpool already having taken Ekitike off their hands this summer.

Newcastle had identified the French forward as a potential replacement for Isak, should he leave St. James’ Park, but Liverpool stole ahead and completed the deal toward the end of July, ostensibly ending their pursuit of Isak.

But they are back in once more, and could further fan the flames by signing Guehi, who was described as “England’s best player” by analyst Ben Mattinson following his exploits at Euro 2024.

Technically sound and cool as you like, the 6 foot Guehi might not be the most physically imposing centre-half in the game, but he has a masterful understanding of the game and may yet bloom into a truly world-class star.

See, for example, how Guehi compared against Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in the Premier League last season. To be sure, the 25-year-old isn’t on the Dutchman’s level, but his creative passing, firm defending and athletic robustness make an interesting comment on the player he could yet become.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

37 (37)

Goals

3

3

Assists

2

1

Clean sheets

11

14

Touches*

64.9

90.4

Pass completion

84%

92%

Key passes*

0.5

0.3

Dribbles*

0.4

0.1

Ball recoveries*

4.3

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.5

Clearances*

4.6

5.1

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

4.7 (69%)

Errors made

2

4

In this way, you could argue that Liverpool are repeating their masterclass for Ekitike already. The 23-year-old has similarities to Isak, for he is mobile, powerful and pacy, with a keen footballing mind, but he’s still got a while to go before he reaches the same heights as the refined Newcastle superstar.

As you can see from the graphic below, Isak is far more clinical, and that while plying his craft in a more competitive division in the English top flight.

Howe is thought to be desperate to package his squad with more quality and quantity, but Liverpool are getting primed to steal another top target from them, one who was the subject of four failed bids from the club during the 2024 summer transfer window.

Having won the FA Cup with Crystal Palace last season, Guehi is no doubt looking to take the next step in his career, and where better to foster his developed qualities than at Anfield, where there is a clear pathway toward a nailed-down starting berth?

As per FBref, he even ranked among the top 12% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shot-creating actions per 90. Just imagine the kind of ball-playing success Slot’s tactics could give rise to.

Shot-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a shot. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.

Arguably, Liverpool’s need for Guehi supersedes their interest in Isak, for Ekitike has the makings of a world-class centre-forward.

Guehi, however, is already a “monster in defence”, as claimed by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, and would provide invaluable depth to a backline that has parted with Quansah and may yet lose the non-committal Ibrahima Konate, who is being pursued by Real Madrid.

Much hinges on Palace’s firmness vis-à-vis their £50m valuation. However, if Newcastle do decide to advance their intrigue to the next level, you wouldn’t bet against Liverpool leaping forward and striking a blow to the Magpies once again.