Vladimir Smicer has thrown his weight behind Alexander Isak and urged Liverpool to make another ambitious raid on Newcastle United this summer.

The former Red, who won the Champions League with us in 2025, believes our record signing will come good after a frustrating debut campaign on Merseyside. Isak's struggles with fitness and injury have prompted criticism, with Newcastle legend Alan Shearer declaring the £125m move hasn't worked out for anyone involved.

But Smicer isn't having any of it. The Czech midfielder reckons Isak, who found the net in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, has much more to offer than he's shown so far.

"I think the saga around Isak was, again, down to small details, which was a little frustrating and perhaps worked against the team because of the waiting," Smicer told BetVictor. "Eventually, it happened, but then he missed pre-season and picked up an injury."

The 52-year-old makes a fair point about the timing. When you're haggling over a British record fee until deadline day, pre-season preparation goes out the window. Add an injury on top of that, and you're asking any player to hit the ground running in impossible circumstances.

"I think a lot of the players we signed last summer will be much better next season. I'm sure of it, because now they know the club more, they understand the pressure, the fans, the culture of the club, and they will play much better than they did this season," Smicer added.

That's the reality of big-money moves in modern football. The pressure is immediate, but the adaptation takes time. Isak isn't the first expensive signing to need a season to settle, and he won't be the last.

But Smicer's real eye-catching suggestion is that we should go back to Newcastle for more. He's identified Sandro Tonali as the perfect addition to our midfield, and it's hard to argue with his logic.

"Sandro Tonali would be a big improvement. Liverpool have Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Gravenberch is staying but we're not sure on Mac Allister. Tonali would strengthen Liverpool's team," the former midfielder explained.

The Italy international is one of Newcastle's crown jewels, signed from AC Milan for £52m in 2023. The Magpies reportedly want over £80m if they're forced to sell, which could happen if they miss out on European qualification this season.

Our midfield situation is genuinely intriguing. Gravenberch has just signed a six-year deal, and the club wants to tie down Szoboszlai to fresh terms. But Mac Allister has two years left on his contract with no talks scheduled, whilst Curtis Jones enters his final 12 months.

Smicer's strategy makes sense: "Liverpool need to choose the weakest position in our squad and buy the best possible player, even for a lot of money. That would be my strategy. Tonali should be considered."

It's worth noting that Anthony Gordon is also being mentioned as a potential Newcastle departure, with links to Anfield doing the rounds. The former Everton winger might be the more likely candidate to leave if the Magpies need to balance the books.

Smicer also backed Hugo Ekitike to make an impact once he returns from long-term injury, suggesting he and Isak represent the future of our attack. That's quite the statement of faith in two players who've barely featured together yet.

"Alexander Isak is one of them. We fought hard for him, and that's not only because we wanted him to stay for just one season. I just hope I think he's got much more to show and to give to Liverpool than he has so far," Smicer said.

The former Red acknowledged the broader challenges we faced last season, admitting too many changes disrupted the team's rhythm after our title triumph. "In Arne Slot's first year at Liverpool, we didn't spend a lot of money but won the title. After the title, we spent a lot of money and bought new players, too many players," he reflected.

With Sunday's trip to Manchester United potentially securing Champions League football for next season, the summer transfer planning will soon kick into gear. Whether we go back to Newcastle remains to be seen, but Smicer's suggestions deserve serious consideration as we look to bounce back stronger.