Liverpool sent Isak a transfer call from Carragher after the price tag was revealed| All Football

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says he would pay Newcastle’s staggering £150million asking price to sign Alexander Isak.

Isak, 25, got Newcastle into action with an early goal in Monday’s convincing 2-0 win at Manchester United. His first-half header took him to 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 and foreign clubs. Boss Eddie Howe has described the situation as ‘complex’ due to the Magpies’ ongoing struggle to avoid breaking financial fair play rules and the Telegraph recently reported that Isak is worth £150m.

That’s a fee 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 love you,” the former Reds defender told Isak when interviewed for Sky Sports after the game. “I think you’re a great player and if I had £150m, I’d pay it to get you at any club.”

Carragher then said he believed Isak was playing as well as ‘any striker in Europe’, having said earlier on Monday night: “He’s not just a scorer, you see some of his touches, and I can’t never forget the first time I saw him play live.

“It was a year or two ago, maybe two or three years ago at Anfield, very early in the season, he scored a goal, he ran through, and the thing about him is, when he has a chance to score or he . he has to finish, he’s one of those strikers you never expect him to miss, he always has that coolness in front of goal.

“When he’s in place, sometimes with the attackers, they can be a bit sloppy or a bit loose in possession. When you see him, he’s moving, he’s moving with r ball, he is not standing in the box, waiting for the ball.

“He can play as the target man, he can score goals, he can run in behind, I think he could almost play as a No 10, I guess he could almost play with another striker , as he has the ability to do so, call in and pick the ball.

“It’s just been a sensation, and there’s been a lot of great signings, we should say under Eddie Howe. He’s the best striker in the Premier League at the moment, and he is, I don’t think his be really close at the moment,” 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 getting better all the time. We know he can score goals , we know he can run, but also his hold-up play and his connection with others has gotten better and better since he’s been at Newcastle.

“I think he’s the best striker in the country at the moment, just because I watch Erling Haaland he’s a world class striker but his overall play is nowhere near Isak’s level at this point meal he could do what he wanted at times in this game.

“It was a very good night for him and he has had a devastating December. The game was won by this man in the first 20 minutes.”

Carragher and Neville’s former team-mate for Liverpool and United respectively, Michael Owen, agrees with the duo and told Premier League Productions: “It’s a wonderful feeling for a striker. It’s from the first class in every way. It oozes first class and Newcastle have done well to get it, develop it and feed it.

“He won’t be on the market but he would be one of the most popular players. He could walk into any team in the Premier League in that position.”