Liverpool boss Arne Slot hails Alexander Isak as “maybe the best striker in the world” after his £125M move from Newcastle, urging patience as he eases him into action.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has called for patience with new recruit Alexander Isak, describing him as "perhaps the world's best striker" but warning that the Swedish striker will be eased into the team following a interrupted pre-season.
Premier League title winners Liverpool finalized the transfer of Isak from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day for a British-record £125 million ($169 million). The 25-year-old came in to round out a summer splurge worth in excess of £400 million as Liverpool beefed up throughout the team.
Isak's transfer was completed after a long pursuit, providing Arne Slot with the top marksman he had been looking for. But a deadline-day bid for Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guehi broke down, despite Liverpool's genuine interest.
Appearing before the media on Friday, Slot thanked Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson for exercising caution in managing Isak's workload over the international break. The striker was used only as a substitute late in Sweden's World Cup qualifying matches, keeping him from undue stress.
He gets one of the best, if not the best, strikers in the world and has to play two very important matches for his nation," Slot said. "But he realized that playing him for 90 minutes on two occasions might jeopardize injury. He should get a big credit for that."
Slot ensured Isak would not be hurried into full games, noting his absence of adequate pre-season and a number of months of no team training.
"We have to build him up slowly," Slot clarified. "Don't anticipate him playing each match for 90 minutes over the next few weeks. We're playing such a lot of matches with virtually no training time, so we must be prudent."
Isak had faced criticism for pushing to leave Newcastle despite having three years left on his contract. Slot dismissed the backlash, saying such reactions are part of a footballer’s life.
“Sometimes people cheer for you, sometimes they criticise you,” the Dutchman said. “That’s part of our job. Now he’s our player, and I’m really happy about that.”
Slot did also admit Liverpool's unsuccessful bid for Guehi but emphasized that the club has sufficient depth in defence. "It would be foolish to say we weren't close to signing him," he conceded. "But he's still at Palace, doing okay, and we'll see what the future holds.
Liverpool have taken all three of their Premier League games this campaign and are targeting a 21st English league championship. Slot's team meet Burnley on Sunday, where fans could catch a glimpse of Isak for the first time in a Liverpool jersey even if it's just as a cameo.
