Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says that he'd pay Newcastle's eye-watering £150million asking price to sign Alexander Isak.
Isak, 25, got in-form Newcastle up and running with an early goal during Monday's convincing 2-0 win away to Manchester United. His first-half header brought him onto 12 goals for the season, having scored in his last six Premier League games.
The Swedish striker is under contract at St James' Park until 2028 but Newcastle want to give him a new deal amid interest from English clubs and abroad. Boss Eddie Howe has described the situation as 'complex' due to the Magpies' ongoing battle to avoid flouting financial fair play rules and the Telegraph recently reported that Isak is valued at £150m.
That's a fee which Carragher would be willing to pay, with Liverpool - who could be forced to find a replacement for Mo Salah next summer - among the clubs linked with his signature. "Alexander, I absolutely adore you," the ex-Reds defender told Isak when interviewing him for Sky Sports post-match. "I think you're a fantastic player and if I had £150m, I'd pay it to have you at any club."
Carragher then stated that he believes Isak is playing as well as 'any striker in Europe', having said earlier on Monday night: "He's not just a goalscorer, you're seeing some of his touches, and I can never forget the first time I saw him play live.
"It was a couple of years ago, maybe two or three years ago at Anfield, very early on in the season, he scored a goal, he ran through, and the thing about him is, when he's got a chance to score or he's got to finish, he's one of those strikers you never expect him to miss, he's always got that coolness in front of goal.
"When he's in position, sometimes with strikers, they can be a little bit sloppy or a little bit loose in possession. When you see him, he's on the move, he's moving with the ball, he’s not just standing in the box, waiting for the ball.
"He can play as the target man, he can score goals, he can make runs in behind, I actually think he could almost play as a No. 10, he could probably almost play with another striker, as he’s got the ability to actually drop in and pick the ball.
"He's just been a sensation, and there's been a lot of great signings, we should say under Eddie Howe. He is the best striker in the Premier League right now, and he is, I don't think it's actually close right now, I think he's the real standout."
Former United captain Gary Neville added: "You could really see the quality of his play and his movement tonight. He's absolutely fantastic and he's improving all the time. We know he can score goals, we know he can run, but also his hold-up play and his link with others has got better and better since he's been at Newcastle.
"I think he is the best striker at this moment in time in the country, purely because I watch Erling Haaland a lot who is a world-class striker but his overall play is nowhere near Isak's level at this moment in time. I think Isak could do what he wanted at times in this game.
"It was a really good night for him and he's had a devastating December. The game was won by this man in the first 20 minutes."
Carragher and Neville's ex-team-mate for Liverpool and United respectively, Michael Owen, agrees with the duo and told Premier League Productions: "It is a lovely feeling for a striker. He is top class in every way. He oozes class. He is seriously good and Newcastle have done well to get him, develop him and feed him.
"He won't be on the market but he'd be one of the most sought-after players. He could walk into any team in the Premier league in that position."