"If you didn't have ambition, then football would be nothing" - Former Liverpool star backs Alexander Isak to make switch to Reds

Former Liverpool forward Michael Owen has backed Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak to join the Reds. He claimed that football would be meaningless if players did not have ambitions they intend to achieve.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Owen disclosed that the drive to win trophies and to feature in the best competitions are factors that urge professional footballers to switch clubs. He also claimed that a player's desire for a fresh challenge is not always money-driven, saying (via Live4Liverpool):

“If you didn’t have ambition, then football would be nothing, You get one short career, try and win as much as you can, try and get to the best teams and that’s what drives everybody. People will say it’s because of the money, it’s not. Most footballers want to be in the best team, playing in the best competitions, winning the trophies and unfortunately, this scenario will never ever change."

According to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports, discussions between the 2024-25 Premier League champions and Newcastle United are progressing. Isak hasn't joined the Magpies' preseason activities, which further indicates a possible exit this summer.

Amid the transfer speculations, the striker could be a decent signing for Liverpool. His goalscoring proficiency could likewise enhance Arne Slot's frontline and the Reds compete for trophies next term. The 25-year-old has contributed 62 goals and 11 assists in 109 games since joining the Magpies from Real Sociedad in 2022.

"If we see a chance in the market we never hesitate" - Liverpool manager Arne Slot

Yokohama F•Marinos v LFC - MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE World Challenge 2025 presented by The Nippon Foundation - Source: Getty

Arne Slot has disclosed that the Reds will not hesitate to sign players when they see an opportunity in the transfer market. He also added that quality is a major factor that influences their transfer decision.

In a recent interview, Slot said (via The Guardian):

“I always say, another thing about Liverpool is that if we see a chance in the market we never hesitate to bring someone in, It’s about quality and we have already made some very good signings.”

The Reds have secured the signings of Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike this summer. They are also expected to move for Alexander Isak as they look to defend their Premier League title next term.

About the author

Abel is an European football journalist who focuses primarily on analysis pieces and preview copies at Sportskeeda. A B.Sc degree holder in Economics, he has a previous work experience of 3 years – a year at Opera News Hub where he was promoted as a 'Verified Sports Writer,’ and over two years at Sportskeeda as a revenue-share writer, where his writing skills have ultimately led him to be integrated into the in-house team.

A Manchester United fan who grew up in a family of Red Devils supporters, he started his journey as an ardent football fan in his childhood. He used to spend hours watching the sport with his family and developed a knack for writing about the beautiful game over the years.

He is a huge admirer of Paul Pogba owing to the midfielder's ability to thread passes from anywhere on the pitch and his favorite manager is Jose Mourinho due to the Portuguese's tactical mind. He feels France's triumph in 2018 is his all-time favorite World Cup moment, and reckons Lamine Yamal and Endrick could replicate the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Abel always strives to verify information, especially statistics, before penning a word and offers constructive but not defamatory criticisms. Apart from Europe's top five leagues, he follows the Eredivisie and the Primeira Liga. He loves to spend his free time playing video games like EA FC and watching movies.

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Edited by Aditya Singh