Alexander Isak’s Instant Reaction to Liverpool Signing Hugo Ekitike Before Him Emerges

Alexander Isak’s immediate reaction to Liverpool signing Hugo Ekitike before him has emerged.

Liverpool’s Striker Gamble: How Ekitike’s Arrival Changed Isak’s Future 🔥⚽

Ahead of the summer transfer window, whispers around Anfield suggested the Premier League champions wanted one more elite striker to complete their attack. Liverpool’s first approach was bold — a move for Alexander Isak — but Newcastle United stood firm, rejecting any chance of their star leaving.

With the door closed, Liverpool pivoted. Their attention shifted to Hugo Ekitike, and in July they sealed a blockbuster £69m deal for the Frenchman. The move immediately sparked debate: was this the end of Liverpool’s pursuit of Isak, or just the beginning of a bigger plan?

Behind the scenes, however, things began to shift. According to The Athletic, once Ekitike’s arrival was announced, Isak’s mood at Newcastle changed dramatically. The Swedish forward, who had just travelled with his teammates for pre-season in Austria, suddenly looked unsettled.

When Newcastle faced Celtic in a friendly soon after, Isak was ruled out with a “minor injury.” But for many, the timing raised more questions than answers. Was it really just a precaution — or the first sign that Isak’s head was already turning towards Anfield?

Isak’s Breaking Point – And Liverpool’s Record-Busting Move 💥🔴

After initially being left out of Newcastle’s friendly with Celtic, the tension only grew. Isak refused to join the Magpies’ preseason tour, with the club insisting he was still nursing a “minor thigh injury.” But behind closed doors, it became clear — the striker’s heart was no longer in black and white.

The saga finally reached its dramatic conclusion on deadline day, as Liverpool shattered the British transfer record for the second time this summer.

👉 Alexander Isak signed for £125m, a deal that Newcastle claim could eventually rise to £130m with add-ons.

At Anfield, he penned a six-year contract and was immediately handed the iconic number nine shirt — a clear signal of the role Jürgen Klopp envisions for him.

For Newcastle fans, it felt like a betrayal. For Liverpool, it was the ultimate coup.

Isak & Ekitike: Liverpool’s New Deadly Duo? 🔴⚡

Hugo Ekitike couldn’t have scripted a better start to his Liverpool career. A goal four minutes into the Community Shield, followed by strikes against Bournemouth and former club Newcastle, has quickly made the Frenchman a fan favorite. His form has already earned him a Premier League Player of the Month nomination for August, alongside Dominik Szoboszlai.

But as good as Ekitike has been, everyone knows who the headline act is meant to be: Alexander Isak. Fresh off a 23-goal Premier League season — bettered only by Mo Salah — the £125m man is expected to lead the line once he’s fully fit.

That leaves a big question for Arne Slot: how do you fit them both in?

• Mo Salah remains untouchable on the right, even if his start has been quiet.
• Cody Gakpo has impressed early, but he looks the most vulnerable if Slot opts for a front two.
• Isak can play through the middle but also thrives drifting left, opening up the possibility of an Isak–Ekitike partnership with Salah on the opposite flank.

With Liverpool likely facing a 60+ game season across all competitions, depth isn’t just a luxury — it’s a necessity. Slot has the tools to rotate without losing firepower, and in certain fixtures, unleash both of his new forwards together.

For opposition defenders, that prospect is terrifying:
👉 Ekitike’s raw pace and instinctive movement.
👉 Isak’s clinical finishing and hold-up play.
👉 All of it supported by Szoboszlai and Mac Allister pulling strings from midfield.

It may be early days, but the signs point to Liverpool having built one of the most versatile and dangerous attacks in Europe.