Alexander Isak smashed the British-record transfer in the summer, but can he lead Liverpool to the Premier League title? Big money signings often come with big expectations, but history shows that the most expensive players struggle to clinch the ultimate prize in the Premier League. Liverpool made Florian Wirtz the British-record transfer when they acquired him from Bayer Leverkusen, only to then break their own record by signing Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a staggering £125 million. Now, all eyes are on the Swedish striker to keep Liverpool at the top of the league table.
Recent years have seen expensive transfers fail to propel their clubs to the pinnacle of English football. Out of the top 10 most costly transfers to English sides, only two players have managed to secure a Premier League winner’s medal, and even they fell short of expectations. Jack Grealish and Darwin Nunez are the exceptions, with Grealish boasting three titles after his move to Manchester City for £100 million. Nunez, on the other hand, left Liverpool this summer after a frustrating three-year spell following his £85 million transfer from Benfica.
Isak now faces the challenge of living up to his hefty price tag and proving his worth on the pitch. Liverpool’s well-oiled machine from the previous season has hit some bumps in the road, and manager Arne Slot must find a way to maximize Isak’s potential alongside a talented attacking lineup. Wirtz and Isak have surpassed the British-transfer record previously held by Enzo Fernandez, who joined Chelsea for £105 million after winning the World Cup with Argentina. However, Fernandez has only managed to secure a Europa Conference League and a Club World Cup title during his time with the Blues.
Declan Rice has been a standout success since his move to Arsenal for £100 million, rising to £105 million with add-ons, from West Ham. The midfielder has impressed in his position but is yet to help Arsenal clinch the coveted Premier League title. Romelu Lukaku’s return to Chelsea for a club-record fee of £97.5 million in 2021 was expected to boost the team’s title aspirations, but the Belgian striker struggled to make a lasting impact before departing for Napoli. Similarly, Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United as the world’s most expensive player did not yield the desired results, with the Frenchman leaving the club empty-handed after a five-year stint.
Antony’s move to United in 2022 from Ajax stands out as one of the costliest failures in Premier League history, with the player and the club failing to challenge for the league title. As Isak aims to lead Liverpool to glory, the pressure mounts for him to overcome the odds stacked against expensive signings in the quest for Premier League success. Will he be the exception to the rule, or will he fall short like many before him? Only time will tell in this high-stakes game of football transfers and expectations.
