Why Liverpool should NOT prioritise Alexander Isak - here's what they should do instead, writes LEWIS STEELE

Maturing is getting excited about the gifts you need rather than those you want.

On Christmas or birthdays, kids would sniff at the idea of socks or new school equipment… it was that latest PlayStation game or that new gadget that all their mates were starting a playground craze for.

For adults, the best presents Santa can bring are not the shiny toys but the things they need. Air fryer? Love it, the oven could do with a week off. New slippers? Yep, that’ll do nicely, any socks to go with it? Stocking up on toiletries? Saves a trip to big

Tescos, thank you very much. OK, you’re still with us… this is about football. The point is that Alexander Isak, to Liverpool, is the PlayStation 5 with the new Grand Theft Auto, FIFA and Call of Duty installed, a plush controller and headset to go with it. 

He is the Michelin Star filet mignon prime cut with the most expensive bottle of red. The five-star trip to the Maldives.

But is he what Liverpool need?

Well, an argument could certainly be made that he is and that debate carries weight. Signing the Swede would automatically increase the likelihood that the Reds defend their Premier League crown and maybe go better in Europe, too.

Yet signing a No 9 for an eye-watering fee maybe should not be top priority. That is especially noting the £69million plus add-ons just paid to Eintracht Frankfurt for Hugo Ekitike – and the £116m for Florian Wirtz, who led the line against AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday.

Signing a central defender seems more important. The reason is obvious. Liverpool only have three senior players who are natural in the role: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez – last term’s fourth-choice Jarell Quansah recently departed for £35million to Bayer Leverkusen.

Gomez has played just 11 minutes this calendar year. He got injured at West Ham just after Christmas. Then, on his return at Plymouth in February, limped off in pain and was not seen again all season.

He has now flown home from Asia due to an Achilles injury and, though it is minor, it puts into perspective Liverpool’s lack of depth in the area. Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and left back Kostas Tsimikas filled in at centre back in the 4-2 loss to Milan.

Neither look like long-term options. Wataru Endo can also play there and, like Gravenberch, is adept in the role. But the problem is this: Gravenberch was the best No 6 in the Premier League last season, so no matter how good he is when in defence, you lose the midfield glue.

Gomez is one of the nicest gentlemen in the squad, a leader in the dressing room and the Reds’ longest-serving player who is respected by all in the building. But it is fair to say his fitness cannot be trusted – even though he is definitely worth keeping for his versatility.

The other pair have issues, too. Konate is solid but last season was the first he had an injury record that one could describe as pleasing – what if that does not continue?

A bigger worry is the fact he is yet to sign a new contract with his current deal set to expire next summer and Real Madrid circling.

Van Dijk is the best central defender on the planet but he is 34 and

will not be around for ever. What happens if the captain suffers a season-ending injury the day after the transfer window shuts? 

Amara Nallo and Wellity Lucky are the academy defenders probably in line to step up if a crisis did occur, but neither are on the pre-season tour which perhaps hints that Arne Slot does not believe they are ready for first-team football just yet.

So all this leads us to the statement: Liverpool need to sign a defender.

Richard Hughes, the sporting director, knows this – and they are actively targeting centre backs to boost their squad. But nothing is advanced at this stage, although it might ramp up in the coming week given Gomez’s minor injury has thrust the matter into the spotlight.

Marc Guehi is one they are keen on although Mail Sport understands the main brief for this position is someone young, adept on the ball and one who could learn from Van Dijk and eventually evolve into his long-term replacement.

Last year, they were in the picture for Lenny Yoro but the young Frenchman chose Manchester United and, 12 months later, Liverpool registered interest in Dean Huijsen who switched Bournemouth for Real Madrid. Both are the profile Liverpool want.

The Guehi deal has gone quiet but it is still a possibility. Crystal Palace want a sky-high fee for their 24-year-old captain and Liverpool are not willing to pay. But if the FA Cup winners budge, Hughes might sense an opportunity and pull the trigger for the England international. 

That is how Liverpool operate: opportunistically. Isak is a golden opportunity and one that cannot be sniffed at if a deal is doable. If he is indeed on the market – and that depends on whether Newcastle stand firm or not – then Isak is the best No 9 that could be bought. It would make Liverpool the team to beat in Europe.

But if it is an either-or situation – it may not be – Isak or another No 9 on top of Ekitike is perhaps not the smartest bit of business. They can have all the shiny strikers they like but you cannot win a league without a solid defensive foundation.

They have that at the moment but, with a very thin list of players in reserve, that could crumble and, regardless of how many goals they can score at one end, they might have problems at the other. Anyway, back to the Christmas list, where was I? Socks, air fryer…