Martin Zubimendi is going to help Liverpool land Alexander Isak

Liverpool are pushing to sign Newcastle United's Alexander Isak and Martin Zubimendi is going to help them do just that.

It's not much of a secret at this stage that Liverpool hope to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. Everything about it (from the Reds' side) fits into place very nicely.

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Liverpool want a new no.9 as neither Darwin Nunez nor Diogo Jota has proven themselves to be reliable this season. They also need to find a new star to lead the attack as Mo Salah might leave at the end of the season.

The Reds are also after a new statement signing for the Arne Slot era as they look to capitalise on a superb first campaign. There isn't really a better way to follow the league title than buying the league's best centre-forward.

Isak has been exactly that this season. He's bagged 19 goals in the top flight already, following the 21 he scored last term.

His all-around game is fantastic, too, and Isak feels like one of the most modern centre-forwards around right now. Liverpool and Slot could work wonders with him.

It's thought that Newcastle are up for selling but only if a team pays a truly ridiculous price. And that's where one Liverpool 'failure' comes in.

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Martin Zubimendi to Alexander Isak

Givemesport reports that Liverpool and Arsenal are both chasing Isak. He's expected to cost over £100m, however, and is potentially a record signing for both clubs.

Liverpool, though, may be in the stronger position with this one. That's because of Martin Zubimendi - a player they desperately tried to sign last summer.

The Reds never got him, nor did they spend the money they wanted to spend on him. That's still sitting pretty in the budget and could go towards Isak.

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That's not the end of Zubimendi's influence here, though. Arsenal 'expect' him to join them this summer, per David Ornstein in an Athletic Q and A.

That's a good £50m or £60m spent on the Spaniard - dramatically descreasing the amount available to spend on Isak. Liverpool should have the financial upper hand for the Swede.

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So in a bidding war, you'd expect that Liverpool could squeeze Arsenal quite tightly. The Zubimendi deal will hurt their chances of landing Isak while boosting the Reds'.