Are Newcastle’s owners helping Liverpool buy Isak?

Darwin Nunez’s summer move to the Saudi Pro League is on the rise.

According to BBC Sport, intermediaries are actively looking into negotiating a deal with the Uruguay international, and this summer a potential move to the Middle East has been discussed.

Nunez is wanted by Al-Hilal, who are coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi and are owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

And transferring Nunez would help Liverpool’s attempts to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle, another PIF-owned club, this summer.

At this point in his career, it’s unclear whether Nunez, 26, is ready to leave Europe.

This summer, Italian champions Napoli have also been interested in Nunez, and other European clubs have shown an interest.

Al-Hilal and Al-Hilal are two of the top Saudi Arabian clubs in which PIF holds 75% of the shares, and Newcastle also has 80%.

Isak’s £110 million bid was rejected by the Magpies on Friday, with Newcastle valued him at about £150 million.

Charlotte Robson, a Newcastle fan, told BBC Sport, “It makes me consider what PIF’s priority is.”

“Today, there has been more and more discontent in the fanbase over Newcastle’s place on PIF’s list of priorities, and allowing another of their clubs to benefit at the expense of us feels even more like we are being overlooked,” said the fanbase.

Most fans would prefer an improved contract being offered to Isak, the dust of the summer settles, and he stays with us a little bit longer, they say, perhaps because it’s their clever way of getting money into NUFC.

However, regardless of Nunez’ departure, football finance expert Kieran Maguire claims Liverpool can afford to purchase Isak.

Although they have been very active during the transfer window, he told BBC Sport that if they had really wanted to, they could have spent another £200-250 million and still be within the PSR [profit and sustainability rules] limits.

For a total of about £265 million without add-ons, Liverpool have signed Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Armin Pecsi.

However, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Luis Diaz’s departures have all recovered an initial £115 million.

In terms of, are you scratching my back, or two plus two equals five, Maguire continued, “I think people are joining the dots.” I’ll make a situation “I’ll scratch yours.” However, in my opinion, that is insufficient evidence.

“I believe Liverpool, rather than a PIF club, will likely be the biggest winner of this.” Isak is not wanted by Newcastle.

In 2022, Isak left Real Sociedad for La Liga for a £60 million move to Newcastle.

He helped the club win the Carabao Cup last year, putting an end to their 70-year search for domestic silverware.

The 25-year-old was reported by BBC Sport wanting to leave Tyneside in July because of what the club called a “minor thigh injury.”

In spite of ongoing uncertainty about his future, sources claim he returned to Newcastle training on Monday after spending the previous week training alone at his former club Real Sociedad.

Isak must “earn the right to train with his squad again,” according to his manager Eddie Howe, who told the Newcastle Chronicle that he had not spoken to the forward since Liverpool made a bid.