Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has made it clear that one Liverpool target would not be among his preferred summer signings for the Reds.
Liverpool have already enjoyed a blockbuster transfer window, splashing out over £300 million on new arrivals Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, alongside Giovanni Leoni, Armin Pešic and Freddie Woodman, while sanctioning departures of stars Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez.
The recruitment drive comes off the back of a dominant title-winning campaign in Arne Slot’s first season in charge at Anfield.
Despite their significant spending spree, the Reds are also reportedly interested in Alexander Isak, having had a £110m offer rejected by Newcastle earlier this month. Although the Swedish striker appears keen to join the Anfield side, Liverpool would need to significantly increase their bid to persuade Newcastle to sell Isak.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Carragher outlined the five transfers he believes the club should still aim to finalise before the window closes and notably left Isak off the list. His main argument is that reigning champions should avoid breaking the bank for a player he believes may struggle to stay fit enough to justify such a record investment.
Carragher’s biggest concern lies at the heart of defence. With Jarell Quansah leaving and Ibrahima Konaté entering the final year of his contract, he believes Arne Slot’s options are too thin.
“They’ve got to get at least one centre-back, maybe two. It’s an area they’re short in, and you can’t go into a season with the ambition Liverpool have without cover there.”
One of those gaps is already filled, with Giovanni Leoni having completed a £26m switch to Anfield, and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is reportedly on Liverpool’s radar.
The former centre-back also called for two more attacking arrivals, especially with Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa are sold before the deadline. But despite Isak’s prolific record for Newcastle, the former Reds’ defender remains unconvinced.
“It’s not about him as a player — he’s obviously talented — but I do worry about how robust he is to play twice a week for Liverpool.
When you break the British transfer record for a player, he has to play virtually every game. He only doesn’t play when he’s injured. With Isak, that’s a risk. And if you spend that kind of money, there’s pressure on the manager to play him no matter what.”
Carragher also warned that signing Isak could create a problematic pecking order for new £76 million signing Hugo Ekitike.
“Ekitike is supposed to be the next Isak, but if you bring in the real thing now, he’s just an expensive understudy. You’re only going to play when [Isak] is injured. He’s not going to get a year to develop into first-choice — Isak will still be there next season.”
For the former England defender, that means targeting a different forward entirely, one who complements Ekitike’s development rather than blocks it.
Despite not naming his ideal signings explicitly, Carragher’s priorities are clear and his comments underline a pragmatic approach to Liverpool’s squad building — spending big only where absolutely necessary and ensuring the club’s long-term prospects aren’t compromised by short-term glamour signings.
With just two weeks left in the transfer window, Liverpool’s recruitment team will have to decide whether to be cautious or push ahead with the kind of blockbuster move that could yet bring Alexander Isak to Anfield.
