According to reports, Liverpool have made ‘one thing clear’ on Alexander Isak ahead of this weekend’s Premier League match against Burnley.
Liverpool‘s patient pursuit of Isak paid off on deadline day as the world-class striker joined the Reds from Newcastle United for a British record fee of around £125m.
The prolonged Isak saga dominated the summer transfer window as he was intent on leaving Newcastle for Premier League holders Liverpool.
Isak resorted to drastic measures to seal an exit as his relationship with Newcastle deteriorated over the summer, missing the club’s pre-season tour of Asia and publicly hitting out at “broken promises” in a bombshell statement.
Newcastle were unwilling to sanction his exit without landing a replacement, but the green light was given for Isak to join Liverpool as they acquired Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa in the final days of the summer window.
Isak will be lacking match fitness, but he could make his Liverpool debut on Sunday as Arne Slot’s side face Burnley in the Premier League.
However, it’s unclear whether he will be fit enough to start for Liverpool, with a recent report from FourFourTwo claiming he’s ‘unlikely’ to start against Burnley or against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next Wednesday.
The report claimed:
‘Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is unlikely to feature from the start before next Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton.
‘Liverpool’s club-record signing Isak is not expected to be named in either of Arne Slot’s starting lineups to face Burnley (14 Sep) or Atletico Madrid (17 Sep) after his minutes were limited during the international break.’
Now, a report from The Boot Room claims Liverpool are ‘making one thing clear’ about Isak, who ‘stands a minimal chance of starting against Burnley’.
It is also noted that ‘sources within Anfield have confirmed the Reds believe it is unlikely but not impossible that Isak will start at Turf Moor on Sunday.
They added: “I think it is minimal, but let’s see how the fitness levels are coming back from international duty – but I don’t think it is impossible.”
Swedish pundit Erik Nova thinks Liverpool may have made an “order” regarding Isak.
“My impression is that Liverpool had ordered a maximum of 20 minutes, absolutely no more. But that is speculation on my part and I don’t know,” Nova said.
“We will never know the truth. Because even if Liverpool has said one thing, Jon Dahl Tomasson will not admit it openly.”