Isak's dream Liverpool shirt number depends on £43m transfer after Slot snub

Alexander Isak has donned the No 14 at Newcastle and is considering a move away but that number is occupied at Liverpool - unless the pieces fall into place for it to become vacant

Alexander Isak is being heavily linked with a summer switch to Liverpool but the Newcastle star currently wouldn't be able to take the No 14 shirt given it is already occupied - at least for now.

Federico Chiesa was the only signing Arne Slot made last summer, albeit the Italian has struggled to make an impact at Anfield and has been left out of their pre-season tour. He was a £10million signing from Juventus but could now make a return to Italy.

Atalanta are keen on the Italian, which would free up the No 14 for Isak if he did make the move to Liverpool. However the Serie A side first need to sell Ademola Lookman to Inter Milan before they can complete a deal for Chiesa, according to reports.

There has been speculation that the Reds flop could return to his native Italy for months and Atalanta are ready to save the 27-year-old from his torrid spell in England. The Bergamo outfit are ready to make a move for Chiesa according to Football Italia, but only once they have confirmed Lookman's exit.

Inter want to add the Englishman, who scored 20 goals, as they rebuild their team in the aftermath of Simone Inzaghi's exit. Atalanta are demanding at least £43m before they let the winger seek pastures new.

If that move does not materialise then Isak may have to eye up the No 9, which is currently held by Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan has seen a potential route to an exit blocked after Napoli pulled out of a deal, but he is expected to bring an end to his three seasons on Merseyside - two of which have been in the No 9 shirt - in the coming weeks.

The Newcastle ace has spent the last three years at St James' Park and just enjoyed his best season to date. He enjoyed a run of games where he scored in eight games on the bounce, one of which was against Liverpool.

He has three years to run on his contract at Newcastle but has told the club he wants to explore a move away from the club, which has put the Reds on alert. Hugo Ekitike recently joined from Frankfurt but Slot is still weighing up whether to pursue the Swedish star.

Newcastle are yet to lose one of their key figures since their Saudi owners came aboard, but their ambitions could now be hit if Isak does push for the exit door. Skipper Bruno Guimaraes admitted the player was going through "some rough things" but insisted he hoped the player would return for the club ahead of the new Premier League season.