REVEALED: Why Liverpool chose Darwin Nunez over Alexander Isak in 2022

A summer overhaul of Liverpool’s attacking options looks to be a certainty.

The Reds are reportedly searching for a new striker who can elevate the team to the next level.

READ MORE: Liverpool one step closer to signing NEXT Dominik Szoboszlai

A number of names have been linked with big-money Anfield moves in recent weeks, including Joao Pedro, Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap.

The most exciting name on Richard Hughes’ apparent short list is Alexander Isak, however.

The Swedish goalscoring machine has undoubtedly been  one of the best strikers in Europe this season and has announced himself to the world as a truly elite talent.

This isn’t the first time the Reds have been interested in Isak though, and a deal was almost pursued in 2022.

Liverpool wanted Isak in 2022

According to a new report from Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas, Liverpool’s recruitment team wanted to sign Isak in 2022, but Jurgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders insisted on Darwin Nunez, who was eventually brought to Anfield for €85 million.

The addition of Nunez is 2022 was the last time Liverpool invested in a striker, and it looks like the Uruguayan’s time in Merseyside could soon be coming to an end.

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool ENTER Hugo Ekitike talks

Liverpool chose Nunez over Isak three years ago and may reverse that decision this summer, but were they right to overlook the Swede the first time round?

Isak arrived at Newcastle just over a month after Nunez became a Liverpool player, and the Magpies paid €15 million less than the Reds did for their striker.

With time it has become clear that Newcastle got the better deal, but that summer it wasn’t so simple.

Was Nunez a better deal than Isak in 2022?

Firstly, Nunez outscored his opponent by 24 goals in the 21/22 season. That stat alone perhaps indicates why Klopp was so keen to move for the Uruguayan.

Isak also underperformed his non-penalty expected goals by 3.7, something that may have put the Reds off a deal at €70 million.

In his final season at Real Sociedad, Isak scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 41 games, not exactly world-beating numbers.

Nunez managed 34 goals and four assists in 41 matches, albeit for a theoretically stronger team in a weaker league.

Liverpool’s no.9 also had more shots per 90 minutes, with a higher percentage of his shots hitting the target too.

It is hard to argue that Nunez wasn’t superior to Isak in the season before the pair moved to England, although it is a different story since then.

Isak has scored 59 goals in 101 matches for Newcastle, Darwin has only managed 40 in 137 games in the same period.

READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold who? Liverpool close in on €40m world-class star

Nunez may have been the bigger prospect in 2022, but this summer may finally see Liverpool move for the man they could have had instead – Alexander Isak.

How to watch Liverpool vs Fulham.

UK viewers can watch the game on Sky TV. You can upgrade your existing Sky to add Sky Sports here or sign up for Sky here.

US viewers can watch the game on Peacock here. Fans can watch the live stream from anywhere by using a VPN and then signing up to the streaming service from your country of choice. You can get a VPN here.