Alexander Isak could be denied two dream Liverpool shirt numbers by struggling pair

As far as bold transfer window moves go, Liverpool's move for Alexander Isak is right up there.

The Reds have expressed their desire to bring Newcastle's top scorer to Anfield in a £120million deal, and while they know the Magpies don't want to sell their prized asset, all eyes are now on Isak to see how he responds to the idea of joining the champions.

If he's up for it, then he's likely to make it clear to his club that he wants to make the switch. Newcastle won't take kindly to that of course, but they will have to consider their next move carefully if that was the case. Unfortunately for them, Liverpool appear to have blocked that route too.

The Magpies have had a bid rejected by Eintracht Frankfurt for their forward Hugo Ekitike, a player who is also being monitored by the Reds, who reportedly made an approach for him on Wednesday.

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If the Isak deal can't be done then Ekitike would appear to be top of Liverpool's list as an alternative, with the Reds effectively calling Newcastle's bluff over the message that they want to have both forwards on their books.

It is all set up for a fascinating few days in the transfer window, and should Isak arrive at Anfield then he would do so as the club's record signing, quickly replacing June arrival Florian Wirtz.

And as with Wirtz - who is donning a temporary shirt number during pre-season, along with the other five new arrivals this summer - there is sure to be plenty of attention on the number that Isak wears on his back.

The 25-year-old sports the No.14 shirt for Newcastle, which at Liverpool currently belongs to Federico Chiesa following his arrival from Juventus last summer.

The Italian has underwhelmed during his time on Merseyside and is said to be open to a switch back to Italy in order to resurrect a career which has been railroaded by injuries. If he did go, then the No.14 could be available for Isak.

Far more likely, however, if that Isak would take the No.9 shirt once Darwin Nunez departs Liverpool this summer.

The Uruguayan has seen a potential route to an exit blocked after Napoli pulled out of a deal, but he is expected to bring an end to his three seasons on Merseyside - two of which have been in the No.9 shirt, with one wearing No.27 - in the coming weeks.

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