One and the Same

Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike?

Let’s start with a fictional scenario. Imagine a world in which your striker has the freedom to do everything as normal on the pitch, with the exception of one thing. One rule. He isn’t allowed to shoot.

Roberto Firmino would be pretty special in that universe. Erling Haaland, not so much. And well, in that make-believe place, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are very similar. Almost too similar. Two peas in a pod. One and the same.

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As I write this post, Liverpool are in the process of chasing both. The Reds have a preference for the former, but seem likely to end up with the latter due to Newcastle United’s reluctance to part with their best player.

I know, you wanted Isak. Me too. He’s one of the best strikers on the continent, proves his worth every week in the Premier League, and would’ve been virtually guaranteed to hit a home run at Anfield.

You’re taking a risk when you decide to break a transfer record. But certain players are worth the investment because of their ability to mitigate such risk through sheer brilliance. Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Florian Wirtz. Isak would’ve been another. A sure thing.

That perhaps explains why Liverpool were willing to spend £120m on him, compared to the rumoured £80m fee attached to Ekitike. One represents a gamble of sorts, he needs a bit longer in the oven. The other doesn’t. Despite just £40m difference between the pair.