Jamie Carragher tells Liverpool to target 'Plan B for Alexander Isak' as Reds legend claims £130m+ fee should get them Kylian Mbappe

The Reds initially tabled a £110 million bid for Isak, but that offer was swiftly turned down by the Magpies. With no progress in sight and less than 10 days left in the transfer window, Liverpool are reportedly preparing a significantly higher bid, rumoured to be in the region of £130m ($176 million). Carragher, however, believes the club should not go overboard for Isak.

In his column for The Telegraph,Carragher warned: "I would like to see the Swedish striker become a Liverpool player, but not at any cost, and the suggestion that the first £110m offer for Isak is 'derisory' is divorced from reality. If Liverpool bid more than £130 million, it is too much. You would want Kylian Mbappe for the fee."

He also raised doubts on the Swedish forward's credentials and added, "From the moment Isak made his debut against Liverpool at Anfield, he has stood out, but there are concerns. Now 25, he is yet to prove he has the durability of Salah. He has failed to start 36 league games over his three seasons in England and 10 of his last 44 league goals were penalties. He would not be taking them at Anfield."

With September fast approaching, time is running out for Liverpool to secure the right player. Carragher stressed that the Reds must act quickly to avoid being caught short, especially with a demanding season ahead. The former centre-back pointed out that Liverpool were caught off guard when they sold Luis Díaz, assuming the club had already lined up a suitable replacement. Now, with Isak’s future still in the air, Carragher believes that Liverpool must not let their hopes rest entirely on one player and must have a couple of alternatives lined up. 

"Slot will not defend the crown with only three out-and-out attackers of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike," he said. "They cannot carry the goalscoring burden without at least one more, preferably two, top-class operators across the front line, especially as Salah will be on Africa Cup of Nations duty in December. Liverpool must be ruthless. It cannot be 'Isak or no one'. Whatever their plan B is, they need to start thinking about executing it. When Liverpool sold Luis Díaz, such is the trust in those in charge of their strategy there was an assumption they had a younger replacement lined up."

Isak is doing everything he can to storm his way out of Tyneside. He allegedly refused to be available for Newcastle's Premier League opener against Aston Villa and has been training alone at the Magpies' Little Benton base on Wednesday. He is expected to stay away from St. James Park on Monday evening when Liverpool visit the North East for their next Premier League fixture.