The situation surrounding Alexander Isak has quickly become one of the most talked-about stories in English football, and not for the reasons Liverpool fans were hoping.
What was meant to be a blockbuster signing, a statement of intent and a natural next step for a striker entering his prime, has instead turned into a growing debate about form, fit, and future.
Former Liverpool and Newcastle midfielder Didi Hamann has now added more fuel to that discussion by suggesting that Isak could even be sold at the end of the season if things do not improve.
Isak’s move to Liverpool was dramatic from the very start. Over the summer, the Swedish striker went on strike at Newcastle United in a very public attempt to force through what he saw as his dream move to Anfield.
Newcastle eventually accepted a massive £130 million deal on deadline day, cashing in on a player who clearly wanted out. Isak also secured a huge personal package, reportedly earning around £10 million per year on a long-term contract.
From a Newcastle perspective, the club got a record-breaking fee. From Isak’s point of view, he got the club and wages he wanted. Whether Liverpool truly got what they expected remains a serious question.
On the pitch, the contrast between Isak’s Newcastle form and his Liverpool output has been stark. At St James’ Park, he was electric. Across his final two seasons there, he scored 48 goals, led the line with confidence, and regularly decided matches on his own.
He looked like one of the most complete forwards in the Premier League. Fast forward to the halfway stage of the current season, and the picture is very different. Isak has managed just two goals in all competitions. One of those came against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, hardly the level of opposition Liverpool paid £130 million to dominate.
Hamann believes patience may not last much longer. He has suggested that if Isak’s form does not improve by March or April, Liverpool may begin discussions about selling him in the summer. That alone would have sounded unthinkable just a year ago, but football moves quickly, especially at the elite level. Big fees bring big expectations, and when those expectations are not met, scrutiny becomes relentless.
A major factor in this situation is the emergence of Hugo Ekitike. While Isak has struggled to find rhythm and confidence, Ekitike has hit the ground running. The French striker has already scored ten goals and looks sharp, direct, and hungry.
According to Hamann, if Ekitike continues on this path, he will become Liverpool’s first-choice centre-forward. That would leave Isak with an uncomfortable decision. To get regular minutes, he may have to accept playing out wide rather than through the middle, something that does not suit his natural strengths or his own view of himself as the main man.
Hamann also believes that if Liverpool do decide to sell, there would be no shortage of interest. Isak’s time at Newcastle showed his true quality, and clubs across Europe are well aware of what he can do when everything clicks.
However, interest alone does not make a transfer realistic. The bigger issue is money, and that is where this situation becomes extremely complicated.
Liverpool broke records to sign Isak. Paying £130 million for a player and committing to wages of £10 million per year over six seasons is a massive financial commitment. If Liverpool were to sell after just one season, they would still want to recover a significant portion of that investment.
But which clubs could realistically afford that? The Premier League dominates football finances, but even within England, very few clubs could take on that kind of fee and salary. Even fewer would do so for a player who has just endured a poor season.
Selling Isak to a Premier League rival would also be risky. Liverpool would have to consider the possibility that he could rediscover his Newcastle form elsewhere and come back to haunt them. For that reason alone, a domestic sale feels highly unlikely.
Hamann mentioned Barcelona as a potential destination, but that idea raises more questions than answers. Barcelona’s financial problems are well documented. Over the past few seasons, they have been forced into careful spending, with total outlay far below what would be required to sign Isak.
The idea of Barcelona paying anything close to £130 million and then taking on his wages does not align with the reality of their current situation.
Real Madrid can also be ruled out. Their attack is already stacked with elite talent, and they have shown little interest in adding another expensive forward.
That leaves very few realistic options. Paris Saint-Germain might be one of the only clubs with the financial power to make such a move, but even they appear to have shifted away from the era of huge, headline-grabbing transfers. Their recent strategy has focused more on balance and sustainability rather than paying massive fees for individual stars.
All of this makes the idea of Liverpool selling Isak far more complex than it sounds. Even if they wanted to move him on, finding the right buyer at the right price would be extremely difficult. It could even mean accepting a significant financial loss, something top clubs are always reluctant to do.
As the season progresses, pressure will continue to build on both the player and the club. Isak will know that time is not on his side. Confidence is fragile for forwards, and a run of goals could quickly change the narrative.
At the same time, Liverpool’s decision-makers will be looking back at last summer and questioning whether the way the transfer unfolded, from the public fallout at Newcastle to the massive financial gamble, was really worth it.
For Newcastle fans, there may be a sense of grim satisfaction. They lost a star player in painful circumstances, but the fee they received looks smarter with every passing week.
For Liverpool, what was meant to be a defining signing has become a potential problem to solve. And for Alexander Isak himself, the coming months may define not just his season, but the next chapter of his career.
