Virgil retains faith in recruitment strategy after Wembley agony

VIRGIL VAN DIJK insists he has full faith in Liverpool's recruitment department to bring in another attacker before the transfer deadline passes as speculation over Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle continues.

- By PAUL GORST

Magpies striker Isak is currently training alone at Newcastle's base having chosen to stay off the preseason tour of the Far East by citing a minor thigh injury and the Sweden international has played no part of the summer schedule for Eddie Howe.

Liverpool saw an offer of £110m rejected by Newcastle earlier this month and have now stated the talks are on ice while Howe and his staff recruit a replacement for Isak, who Newcastle are adamant won't be sold before a successor is sourced.

The sale of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, coupled with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota last month sees Liverpool heading into the new Premier League campaign with just new signing Hugo Ékitike as the only natural senior centre forward in the squad.

Sporting director Richard Hughes was able to raise around £110m for Diaz and Nunez and the club are working on adding to their attacking options before the September 1 deadline, with Isak the leading candidate at present.

After a lavish summer that has already seen the best part of £300m forked out, Reds skipper Van Dijk says the right people are in place to ensure the squad is not short of options by the time the window closes at the beginning of next month.