Was Isak interest a smokescreen?
- Published
Liverpool's interest in Alexander Isak was - or rather is - entirely genuine.
Newcastle United, at least publicly, have maintained that the 25-year-old Sweden international simply is not for sale.
But when the Reds stepped up their efforts to land the striker earlier this week, it suggested they had had some private encouragement to the contrary.
Even if their decision to focus on Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike comes to fruition, you can expect Liverpool's interest in Isak to remain.
As things stand, the former Real Sociedad forward will enter the final two years of his contract next summer - a juncture at which Newcastle face significantly more jeopardy.
Of course, Liverpool - with or without Ekitike - may enter next summer's transfer window believing they do not require another centre-forward.
But, if they do, Isak is unlikely to be too far away from their thoughts.