When Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer, Arne Slot welcomed a superstar in the making to his ranks.

Aged 23, the Frenchman was described by analyst Ben Mattinson as being "one of the best strikers out there" after his 22-goal and 12-assist campaign, compelling FSG to fork out £79m in July.

However, the name on everyone's lips still belongs to Newcastle United superstar Alexander Isak.

The Premier League's most complete number nine informed his club that he wishes to explore a move to Merseyside this summer, having opted against going on the Toon's pre-season tour.

But will he sign for the Premier League champions?

Liverpool chasing new striker

Liverpool submitted their first official bid for Isak on Friday morning, but Newcastle swiftly knocked it back. Since then, there have been conflicting reports about what comes next, but reporter Ben Jacobs believes the Reds may not return at all over the coming month.

This is in keeping with the narrative. Don't stress. Isak will only leave St. James' Park this summer if the Magpies find themselves a suitable replacement, and that's hardly a certainty.

Should Liverpool fail to secure their quarry, FSG might instead be tempted to target Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, who has been a top target at Anfield over the past few months.

Manchester United have also shown an interest in the former Manchester City star, who, like Isak, would cost a record sum to bring back to the Premier League; Atletico are looking for something in the region of £125m.

How Julian Alvarez would fit in at Liverpool

Liverpool might have thought that Darwin Nunez would be the heir to his countryman Luis Suarez's long-vacated throne at Anfield, but it wasn't to be.

Instead, Alvarez could be the man. The South American has a wealth of experience in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola's wing, where he became rich with titles.

But having transferred to Atletico Madrid in La Liga one year ago in an £81.5m package, Alvarez has discovered a new level of prolific quality, scoring 29 goals and providing eight assists across 57 matches in all competitions.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 15% of positional peers across Europe last term for goals scored, and the top 6% for passes attempted, shot-creating actions and progressive carries per 90. This blend of creativity, control and strength underscores his potential as a Suarez-esque forward at Liverpool.

Alvarez's positional fluidity, moreover, aligns with what Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are looking for: a dynamic forward with the capacity to work with or cover for Ekitike, who is versatile in his own right.

His quiet power and physicality suggest he could become a striker for Liverpool who is every bit as good and unforgettable as Suarez, who is one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation, once even hailed by Steven Gerrard as "the best I've played with" for his utter dominance in the final third.

Alvarez might have a few floors to scale before reaching peak Suarez levels, but he was called "the best forward in the world" by journalist Roy Nemer last year, who was discussing the Argentine's meteoric rise.

​​​​​​Isak might be Liverpool's dream target for the remainder of the transfer window, but if he's truly unavailable in spite of FSG's best efforts, Alvarez wouldn't be a half-bad fallback.