Barcelona are preparing to turn the transfer market on its head once more. According to information gathered by GoalZaza, the Catalan giants have set...
Barcelona are preparing to turn the transfer market on its head once more. According to information gathered by GoalZaza, the Catalan giants have set their sights on Liverpool striker Alexander Isak as the man to eventually succeed Robert Lewandowski at the Camp Nou. It is a move that reeks of desperation, but also one that betrays a certain tactical intelligence if the board has the nerve to see it through.The original plan was simple: prise Harry Kane away from Bayern Munich and let the England captain lead the line for the next three years. But that pipe dream is fading fast. Kane is settled in Bavaria, he is the focal point of Vincent Kompany's project, and the Bundesliga champions have no interest in selling. So Barcelona have been forced to look elsewhere, and they have landed on a truly curious alternative in Isak.Let's be honest. Isak is not a like for like replacement for Lewandowski. He does not bully centre halves with his back to goal or thrive on service into the box from deep. But what he does offer is something Barcelona have lacked since the peak years of Luis Suarez: genuine pace in behind and an ability to stretch defences in transitional play. In a side that often dominates possession but struggles against a low block, Isak's movement could be the key to unlocking those stubborn back lines. His clinical finishing is no secret either. He has already proven in the Premier League that he can finish with both feet and his head, and at 25 years old, he is entering his prime.Of course, the big question is whether Liverpool would even entertain the idea. Isak is a starter at Anfield. He is their primary outlet in attack. The only way this gets done is if Barcelona cough up a fee north of £100 million, and even then, the Reds would need a replacement lined up. But it is Camp Nou. It is Barcelona. Players have a habit of agitating for the move when the noise gets loud enough. Do not be surprised if Isak's agent starts making sympathetic noises about the 'opportunity of a lifetime' in the coming weeks.For now, this is a rumour with more heat than light. But the fact that Barcelona are even sniffing around a striker of this profile tells you everything about their desperation to find a long term answer in the number nine shirt. Lewandowski is not getting any younger, and the club cannot afford to wait until he is completely spent. If they pull this off, it would be the shock of the summer. If they do not, they will be back to square one, wondering why nobody wants to join a club in financial flux.
