'Bad egg' - Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike concern that Liverpool could walk into

Liverpool have been cautioned that bringing in both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike could lead to complications. The Merseyside club are in the middle of an ambitious summer window, having already broken their single-season transfer outlay with £268million spent on new signings.

That total could climb closer to - or even surpass - the £400m mark if they manage to secure Isak, who is expected to cost between £120m and £150m - assuming Newcastle, who have insisted the striker is not for sale, can be convinced to part ways with him. But while Reds fans may be thrilled by the thought of pairing Isak with Ekitike - who recently joined from Eintracht Frankfurt in a massive £79m deal - Shaun Wright-Phillips has expressed concern.

The ex-Chelsea and Manchester City ace believes it could be difficult to play both forwards in the same team, which could lead to one being sidelined - a scenario that might create tension or spark a battle of egos.

"In terms of the saga, now that Liverpool have Ekitike, I don't think it's that important to sign Isak," Wright-Phillips, 43, told Ace Odds. "They're putting themselves in a position where they just paid £70-80m for one, and right now he's their main No. 9.

"When you're going to pay £120m for somebody, he's going to start. You can't pay £120m and he's not starting for your team. So there's one conflict there that may start a bad egg. Because we don't know Ekitike's personality to that degree. If he's not playing, how is he going to be?"

Liverpool already boast a formidable attacking unit, including Mohamed Salah, Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, and British-record signing Florian Wirtz. Introducing yet another elite striker could create an overcrowded front line, where playing time becomes a point of contention.

Even though Ekitike, 23, netted 22 goals in Germany last term, he has yet to prove his worth in the Premier League. In contrast, Isak, 25, has made a name for himself as one of the division's and world's top goal threats, with 52 goals across all competitions in the last two campaigns.

Both attackers possess immense quality, but whether they can share the pitch effectively - especially with only one natural centre-forward role available - remains uncertain. Isak was initially Liverpool's primary forward target, but after being told there was no deal to be done, the club turned to Ekitike.

However, after Ekitike's arrival at Anfield was made official, Isak began pushing for a move of his own. The former Real Sociedad striker declined to join Newcastle's pre-season tour abroad, seemingly in an effort to engineer a switch. Still, the Magpies are holding firm for now.

Earlier this month, Liverpool tested the waters with a £110m bid, but it was immediately turned down. Unless Newcastle's stance changes dramatically - something Isak himself might influence or if the Magpies first land a replacement up front - the Reds are unlikely to return with a higher bid.

Wright-Phillips' comments about potential internal friction aren't without historical context. Many teams stacked with big-name players have struggled due to unrest behind the scenes.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has underlined the importance of togetherness and work ethic, but managing two expensive forwards with major expectations may prove challenging. On the other hand, Liverpool's interest in Isak reflects faith in their ability to handle a squad full of stars.

Ekitike's adaptability - being capable of playing across the front three - could work well alongside Isak's more traditional striker role.

Slot's tactical flexibility, including using attacking full-backs to stretch the pitch, might offer the tactical setup needed for both to shine, with Ekitike likely drifting inside from a wide position, linking up with Isak and allowing full-backs to surge forward.

Nonetheless, the heavy financial and emotional commitments to both players add pressure. Supporters will be optimistic that the club's high-stakes approach succeeds, but as Wright-Phillips warns, Liverpool must proceed with caution to avoid internal conflicts that could derail their campaign.