Liverpool’s Slot urges patience with ‘best striker’ Isak after record move

Liverpool manager Arne Slot connected Friday described caller signing Alexander Isak arsenic “maybe the champion striker successful the world” but warned helium would beryllium eased into enactment gradually aft a disrupted pre-season.

The Premier League champions signed the Sweden guardant from Newcastle connected transportation deadline time for a British grounds interest of £125 cardinal ($169 million), adding further firepower to their awesome squad.

Isak’s accomplishment aft a protracted pursuit was portion of an eye-catching splurge of much than £400 cardinal successful the summertime transportation window, though a deadline-day determination to motion Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi collapsed.

“A batch of things happened connected the past time (of the transportation window), which is not ever the situation, due to the fact that past play we hardly did thing during the full window,” Slot said connected Friday.

“But the happening that pleases maine most, of course, is america getting the woody for Alex implicit the line.”

The Dutchman praised Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson for the mode helium handled Isak’s workload during the planetary break.

The 25-year-old, who has not played immoderate nine shot this season, was connected the seat for Sweden’s 2-2 World Cup qualifying gully against Slovenia and was brought connected arsenic a precocious substitute successful the 2-0 decision against Kosovo.

“He gets 1 of the best, possibly the champion striker successful the world, and needs to play 2 precise important games for his country, but understands that if helium would play him doubly for 90 minutes, past astir apt the subordinate would person been injured,” Slot said.

“And that’s not ever casual for a manager, that helium takes attraction of the involvement of a player, truthful helium deserves a large compliment for that. And we volition dainty Alex the aforesaid arsenic they did, truthful don’t expect him to beryllium each azygous crippled 90 minutes connected the pitch.

“That’s decidedly not going to hap successful the upcoming weeks. He missed a due pre-season, I deliberation helium missed 3 oregon 4 months of squad sessions, truthful present we person to physique him up gradually, with america playing truthful galore games, hardly immoderate grooming time.”

– Isak disapproval –

Slot, speaking up of Sunday’s lucifer against Burnley, brushed disconnected disapproval that Isak received aft helium agitated to permission Newcastle, wherever helium inactive had 3 much years to tally connected his contract.

“Sometimes radical cheer for you, truthful I deliberation aft helium won the League Cup (trophy past season), everyone was truly blessed with him,” helium said.

“And successful different moments you get criticised — this is portion of his life, my life, our jobs. Now he’s a subordinate for america and I’m truly blessed with that.”

Slot, whose squad person won each 3 of their Premier League matches truthful acold this season, admitted helium had been keen to motion Guehi but would not beryllium drawn astir immoderate aboriginal bid.

“I deliberation it would beryllium a spot ridiculous if I’m going to contradict that we were adjacent to signing him,” helium said. “That’s truthful retired successful the open, that would beryllium ridiculous.

“These things hap successful football, it happened to our players possibly successful the past arsenic well, that they thought they were truthful adjacent connected signing determination else, and past successful the past infinitesimal things changed.”

Slot, who is eyeing a grounds 21st English league rubric with Liverpool, said helium had options successful defence.

“It’s a pity, not lone for america but besides for the player, I think,” helium said. “But he’s successful a bully spot playing astatine Palace, wherever helium won the Community Shield and the FA Cup, with a precise bully manager arsenic well. So let’s spot what the aboriginal brings for him and for us.”

The station Liverpool’s Slot urges patience with ‘best striker’ Isak aft grounds move appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.