Liverpool could sign another Sadio Mane this summer but he isn't Arsenal target Alexander Isak

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has advised the Reds to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle this summer. But there is another player who could be the new Sadio Mane.

Posted Saturday, May 25, 2024 by liverpool.com

Newcastle duo Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak.

The Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool is over and Arne Slot has formally been introduced as the Reds' new head coach. And while that only officially happened this week, plans for the summer have long been underway.

In conjunction with Liverpool having been out of the title race for a while but safely with Champions League football secured for next season, it means that the transfer rumor mill has long been in full swing. With a good squad left behind for Slot to take over, only refinements — rather than wholesale changes — will be required.

"Liverpool will always be linked with some of the best players in the world," Robbie Fowler told Crypto Casino LTD this week. "That's just a reflection of the size of the club. You want to be linked to these players who are capable of changing games.

"In the last six weeks or so, it has become evident that Liverpool need a player who can change things and make their attack more varied when it isn't happening for them. I'm not saying that (Mohammed) Kudus is that catalyst, however.

"Would he make the club better? He would make the squad better, there is no doubt about that and he is an exciting player. There are two players I would genuinely like to see at the club: Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak.

"I think Watkins has just signed a new deal, but I've got a lot of time for him and I think he is brilliant. Isak, for me, reminds me of Sadio Mane as well. I don't want to put things in people's heads, but I think he would be a good fit as well."

And while Isak, who is a key summer target for Arsenal according to the Daily Mirror, would be a brilliant signing for Liverpool, there is arguably another Newcastle United player who would be just as good a fit at Anfield— and an even closer match to Mane. Earlier in the month, the Daily Star linked the Reds with a move for Anthony Gordon and the 23-year-old would be an excellent stylistic fit for Liverpool.

Gordon scored 12 times and assisted another 11 in 48 appearances for Newcastle last season, more than justifying what looked like a massive outlay that the North East club had committed to sign him from Everton. The $57m (£45m/€53m) move looked like a steep price tag for Gordon only 18 months ago, but it might have been a bargain.

While Luis Diaz impressed down the left side for Liverpool in 2023/24, the Colombian didn't always have the directness that Gordon brings. Often coming back inside or failing to beat his man, Diaz also got five fewer goal contributions than Gordon last season in three more matches.

There are legitimate mitigations for Diaz, of course, with what happened to his parents, and Liverpool should be looking to add rather than replace forward options this summer. But if there was a way of doing a deal for Gordon, it is definitely something that Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes should consider.

Having both Gordon and Diaz as options down the left side, with Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez to fit into the attacking line-up as well, that would be a really well-stocked forward line that should score plenty. With Champions League football coming back to Anfield again, the Reds cannot afford to leave themselves short in key areas.