The former research director of Liverpool has revealed why the club decided to push ahead with the signing of Darwin Nunez in 2022 about Alexander Isak.
NUNEZ joined the Reds in a club record movement of Benfica and splashed a first £ 64 million, with add-ons that rises to a potential £ 85 million.
In the same summer, Newcastle break their own transfer record and spent £ 63 million to bring Isak from Real Sociedad.
The attackers have had contrasting fortunes in the Premier League with Isak that goes into force to strength, while Nunez probably seems to be leaving this summer.
Nunez scored 40 goals in 143 matches for Liverpool, with the Tally of Uruguayan including 25 goals in 95 Premier League matches.
Despite the fact that injury problems have led Isak to play fewer matches for Newcastle at 109, Isak has hit 62 times for the Magpies, including 54 goals in 86 Premier League matches.
Speaking of the Financial Times, Liverpool's former research director Ian Graham suggested that the growing power of Jurgen Klopp about transfer activity at the club was the key to the Reds that chose to move to Nunez about Isak.
Between 2012 and 2023, Graham worked at the club to help use data analysis to help their transfer policy, and now serves as a chief executive of Ludonautics, a sports consultancy firm.
He explained how Klopp had previously persuaded the recruitment team to sign Mo Salah for Julian Brandt in 2017, a decision that turned out to be a masterstroke.
After success in the Premier League and Champions League, the power relations had apparently changed with Klopp on the signing of Nunez in 2022.
“Jurgen created every success for the club, so it's understandable why it moved in that direction,” said Graham.
“In 2022 he signed Darwin Nunez instead of Alexander Isak. Both players, if you look at Top Young Center-Forwards in Europe, they would be number one and two or two and three, but [Erling] Haaland would go [Manchester] City and from our price range.
“Jurgen preferred Nunez. It would be very much of me to say: “It is terrible that Jurgen had his choice,” while Jürgen was convinced of a different choice in the past.
“And it was still the case that we signed good players – in the case of Nunez, one of the best young strikers in Europe.”
Graham added that he believes that manager has the ultimate control in determining transfers, both specifically for England and starts dying, with more faith being placed in recruitment teams about decisions.
Klopp was pronounced in his support for Nunez during his time at the club, ended as Liverpool -Baas in the summer of 2024.
Nunez gained 47 performances under Klopp's successor Arne Slot last season, but only started eight Premier League matches and scored seven times in all competitions.
The attacker is said to have been the subject of interest of Napoli, Atletico Madrid and Saudi-Arabian side al-Hilal this summer, but Napoli is currently being seen as the leaders to sign him for a potential Cut-Price deal.
Mail Sport understands that Liverpool wants to sign a striker this summer if they can afford one.
Isak would be the dream goal, but he will probably bring an even greater compensation than the club's editions on playmaker Florian Wirtz, an initial £ 100 million that rises by £ 116 million with add-ons.