It’s no secret that Liverpool will be aiming to test Newcastle United’s reserve when it comes to signing Alexander Isak this summer.
Newcastle are desperate to keep Isak long-term, Eddie Howe’s side have just won their first trophy in decades and are also hoping to return to Champions League football.
And although Liverpool are on course to win the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season, something has been missing from their squad in recent weeks.
Darwin Nunez hasn’t necessarily improved under Slot – he’s still the hit or miss number nine who contributed sporadically under Jurgen Klopp.
And therefore it’s obvious why someone like Isak could be a huge success at Liverpool, especially if Nunez made his way to Saudi Arabia.
Newcastle might accept Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott in Alexander Isak swap
That considered, Give Me Sport are now reporting that Newcastle are interested in signing both Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott should Liverpool make a push for Isak this summer.
As mentioned, Newcastle don’t want to sell Isak, but should their stance soften for any reason, both Jota and Elliott would be players who Eddie Howe’s team would be happy to consider.
READ MORE: Liverpool think they’ve just secured ‘exceptional’ star as their first summer signing for Arne Slot
The Magpies aren’t interested in signing Nunez himself, but Howe is keen on Jota and Elliott should Newcastle enter any swap deal negotiations.
Callum Wilson is set to leave St James’ Park this summer so in a scenario in which Isak left too, Newcastle would be faced with a serious rebuild up top.
In terms of Jota’s contributions as a false nine for Liverpool this season, the 28-year-old has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 29 appearances.
And whilst he’d be no replacement for Isak – an unfair way to judge any striker in world football right now, Jota surely would be a strong signing for most Premier League sides were he to improve his fitness record.
Harvey Elliott has more to offer under Arne Slot
From a Liverpool point of view, fans at Anfield would probably be more concerned by the prospect of losing Elliott out of the two.
The England U21 international showed his attacking talent away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League recently, trusted to replace Mohamed Salah on the right.
READ MORE: Arne Slot shares what Harvey Elliott needs to do for more game time at Liverpool
And whilst Liverpool are trying to keep Salah, perhaps Elliott could play a bigger role at right wing were his Egyptian teammate to leave.
There’s clearly a lot of moving pieces, and Newcastle will be determined to keep Isak first and foremost despite any interest in Jota or Elliott.
And were Isak ever to make an emotional departure from St James’ Park, many may still feel that the club would be better served targeting someone like Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
