David James hopes Alexander Isak can help Liverpool win multiple trophies

Former goalkeeper David James believes Liverpool need striker Alexander Isak to be able to win trophies at home and in Europe.

The ex-England international admits the forward may not be “the most viable signing” due to Newcastle’s £150million price tag, but the Reds’ long-term interest in the Sweden international shows how valuable they think he could be to them.

Extricating Isak from St James’ Park will be far from straightforward, even though the player has not joined his team-mates for their pre-season tour of South Korea and is privately telling people he wants to move to Anfield.

However, James said Liverpool will have done their homework and know exactly what difference he can make to a team which won the Premier League in head coach Arne Slot’s first season, but came up disappointing short in the Champions League.

“Arne is in the most wonderful position to be able to have to defend titles,” James told the PA news agency after surprising a St Helens walking football team as part of an initiative run by Carlsberg.

“Liverpool will give it the best they can, but there is a bigger carrot of ‘can you be dominant in Europe?’.

“Bringing in someone like Isak is not the most viable signing, but when you want to be achieving on multiple levels then you are going to need that squad.

“If Isak comes in – if – then it will be because Liverpool will feel they need him rather than having the money just to get someone.

“What is interesting here is when you look at (Mohamed) Salah last season, he scored the goals but his assist numbers were what got me.

“How much influence he has on players to be better than the numbers they were recording last season will be exciting – and that includes Isak if it goes through.

“These players are