Arne Slot drops biggest hint yet on Liverpool's Alexander Isak transfer chase

Arne Slot has made it clear that he wants Liverpool to secure another attack as they remain determined to add Alexander Isak, who is pushing for a Newcastle exit

Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits they need "one more attacker at least" as the club continue to go after Alexander Isak with their pursuit showing no sign of cooling.

The Reds have seen a £110million offer for the Newcastle frontman rejected and are yet to return with an improved bid. Isak has made it clear he wants to leave St James' Park and is doing all he can to push for the exit door after three years in the north east.

Newcastle would demand a British-record fee but had claimed Isak would not be sold this summer under any circumstances, even if they landed a new striker themselves. The situation still has weeks to play and Slot has made it clear that he wants more firepower at Anfield after seeing Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez leave.

Liverpool spent £79m to land Hugo Ekitike from Frankfurt, the Frenchman scoring on his debut, but Slot wants more and has opened the door to his new signing pushing out wide to accommodate another new arrival.

He told Sky Sports: "I see Hugo mainly as a No 9 that could also play from the left or together with another No 9. We need to have one more attacker at least."

Newcastle have yet to include Isak in any of their pre-season plans and Eddie Howe admits there's no way he can include the Swede for their Premier League opener against Aston Villa given the situation. The situation is complicated by the club's failure to land any of their striker targets.

It leaves them light in the final third with Anthony Gordon tipped to lead the line if he is fit. And, ahead of a return to the Champions League, Howe has confessed that Newcastle are having to accept that they will have to work with the squad they've been left with.

"I don't think it's been healthy for us," he said. "I don't deny that's been a big challenge. Alex, for me, is one of the best strikers in the world - if not the best. To miss him from your squad leaves a huge gap."

He also added: "I think morale was certainly affected early on during pre-season. There was nothing I could do to affect that - it was always going to be there.

"When you have a player that good who is not part of your group, it's difficult for the players to fully understand it and to know what's going on and how to react. But, as time has gone on, there has been an acceptance this is the squad and we have got to make the best of the situation."