Liverpool's British-record £125 million signing of Alexander Isak has drawn criticism from former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who believes Chelsea secured better value with their acquisitions of Joao Pedro and Alejandro Garnacho.
Isak joined Liverpool after a protracted summer saga, making clear his desire to leave Newcastle for Anfield. The fee surpassed the club's previous record for Florian Wirtz. Meanwhile, Chelsea spent £60 million on Brighton's Joao Pedro, who has already scored twice this season and helped win the FIFA Club World Cup.
Hasselbaink told Betway: 'I think so, yeah, but they are totally different players. Joao Pedro is more like a 10. He can play as a 9, but he’s more like a 10. Pedro has come in and it’s not fazed him. He settled in really quickly. He’s scored really important goals.'
He also praised Chelsea's £40 million deal for Garnacho from Manchester United, saying: 'If you look at Elanga or Isak and a lot of other players, the big money that they have gone for, Chelsea have done some really great business for Garnacho.'
Isak scored his first goal for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup against Southampton but is yet to find the net in the Premier League or Champions League. He is expected to start against Crystal Palace on Saturday due to Hugo Ekitike's suspension.
Despite the criticism, Hasselbaink named Isak as the Premier League's most exciting striker: 'I would say Alexander Isak. I think he’s complete. He scores different kind of goals. He scores headers, he can move, he finishes really calmly.'
