"I really don't think so [would have signed if he knew Isak was coming]. I really think he signed after a first approach from Liverpool to Newcastle for Isak, when Newcastle closed the door. From a Liverpool point of view, that was before Isak went on strike or stopped training with them. Then, they kind of reverted to Ekitike who was on his way to Newcastle in the first place."
"We knew that as soon as Isak would be fit, the one to be dropped would be Ekitike. It was just very clear. Can they play together? Of course they can through games, you can play Ekitike, maybe a bit on the left, but that's not his position really. It's never going to be Ekitike ahead of Isak unless Isak is not fit. Arne Slot has to manage his strikers cleverly"
Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak to strengthen attacking options in the summer transfer window. Ekitike joined earlier from Eintracht Frankfurt and scored two Premier League goals and one in the Community Shield. Isak arrived later after Newcastle resisted his sale and became the most expensive signing in Premier League history. A claim states Ekitike would not have signed if he had known Isak would also join, since Isak is expected to be the regular starter and would push Ekitike to the bench. Isak started against Atletico Madrid while Ekitike appeared as a substitute, leaving Arne Slot to manage striker roles carefully.
Read at www.caughtoffside.com
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