Liverpool could look to five alternatives after Isak news | OneFootball

Isak setback forces Liverpool to confront January reality

When Alexander Isak latched on to a Florian Wirtz through ball and fired home at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it felt like a long delayed release. The £125million signing had struggled to impose himself, two goals and one assist his modest return before kick off, even finding himself relegated to the bench. This, finally, looked like the moment his Liverpool career began to breathe.

Instead, it stopped abruptly. Clattered by Micky van de Ven, Isak did not celebrate. He lay in a heap, stretcher briefly summoned, before limping away towards what must have felt like a lonely away dressing room. The fear is a broken left leg, an injury that could sideline him for months. With January days away, Liverpool’s hierarchy are now confronting a question they hoped to avoid. Do they need a replacement, and if so, how much do they need to spend?

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January market viewed through necessity

Liverpool may not want another expensive striker so soon after last summer’s outlay, but necessity has a habit of bending principle. The Daily Mail outline several cut price options Arne Slot could consider to bolster a suddenly threadbare frontline.

Ivan Toney is one such name. Since his move to the Saudi Pro League in 2024, he has been persistently linked with a Premier League return. His record for Al Ahli, 42 goals in 62 appearances, comes with caveats, yet his ambition remains clear. At 29, with the World Cup six months away, England is surely still in his sights. He is thought to be available for around £20million, a figure that invites curiosity even if doubts remain.

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Familiar faces and short term answers

Dusan Vlahovic’s name has long hovered over English football. His Juventus career has not collapsed, 64 goals in 162 games offers respectability, but time and contract length are squeezing value. With six months left on his deal, he could be attainable for under £20million. Juventus general manager Damien Comolli had previously stated the striker was “free to leave if the right offer came in,” and January may finally provide that offer.

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Aleksandar Mitrovic represents a different calculation. Premier League proven, physically imposing, and relentless, he scored 111 goals in 206 games for Fulham. His numbers abroad remain strong, and at 31 he is not finished. As a bench option or short term solution, he would bring certainty rather than promise.

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Experience, risk and temptation

Danny Welbeck sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. Seven goals in 16 games for Brighton this season have revived talk of England contention. At 35, he is a stop gap in the truest sense, but one who understands the league, the demands, and the scrutiny. Sentiment and rivalry complicate the idea, but form makes it harder to dismiss entirely.

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Perhaps the most intriguing option is Endrick. Compared to Pele before his move to Real Madrid, his time in Spain has stalled. Trusted briefly last season, he has made just three appearances this term and appears surplus under Xabi Alonso. A loan feels plausible. At 19, raw and restless, he would bring upside rather than certainty, but also hunger, something Liverpool’s attack could soon lack.

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Pragmatism over pride

Liverpool do not want panic. They also cannot ignore reality. Isak’s injury, feared serious, has stripped away depth and momentum. The January window rarely offers perfect solutions, but it does offer choices. Whether Liverpool seek experience, reliability, or a calculated gamble will reveal much about Slot’s priorities in his first season.

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The Isak injury feels cruel precisely because it arrived just as confidence was forming. Fans accepted his slow start on the understanding that patience would pay off. Now that patience may be tested in the harshest way.

There is scepticism about January fixes. Supporters have seen stop gaps before, players who arrive under pressure and leave quietly. Names like Toney or Mitrovic make sense on paper, but fans worry about disrupting balance for a short term return. Liverpool’s success has been built on planning, not opportunism.

At the same time, there is realism. Going into months of decisive fixtures without cover feels reckless. Endrick, as a loan, intrigues supporters who crave potential and hunger, but also fear repeating experiments that cost rhythm.

Ultimately, fans want reassurance that the club will not overreact, but also will not gamble the season on thin hope. If Isak is out long term, action is required. The concern is not who arrives, but whether Liverpool can stay true to their identity while responding to misfortune they could not control.