Liverpool close on Ekitike, Isak to stay – what has gone on this week?

Hugo Ekitike and Hugo Ekitike are both expected to leave Liverpool, and Newcastle appear to be keeping hold of Alexander Isak.

However, as Liverpool began to pursue Isak and Newcastle made a £70 million offer for Ekitike earlier this week, things started to look a little different.

This story has moved quickly even in the tense world of football transfers.

At the end of last season, Liverpool made the move for Ekitike as the starting point.

They had just won their second Premier League title, totaling 86 goals, which is the most of any top-flight team that season.

Their main goalie, Mohamed Salah, had just completed a new contract.

Therefore, investing a lot in a new goalscorer seemed foolish. Arne Slot, however, had other ideas.

The addition of a new number nine was one of Liverpool’s top hiring priorities.

It is obvious that the Liverpool manager wanted an upgrade, despite the fact that Slot had persisted with Darwin Nunez for some time throughout the season.

This summer, Nunez has the potential to leave Anfield, with Napoli and Saudi Arabia interested.

Isak, a Newcastle striker who was also interesting to Arsenal, was Liverpool’s ideal target.

Liverpool knew they needed to find alternatives because of Eddie Howe’s significance and potential asking prices of upwards of £130 million.

Other strikers included Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

Their admiration for Isak is now as high as their interest in Ekiti.

Throughout the summer, there has been rife talk of Liverpool’s interest in Isak in business circles. What many people had anticipated was coming was confirmed by Liverpool’s emergence this week in the Newcastle game.

In retrospect, that approach was made available at a peculiar time.

Following Eintracht’s rejection of a £70 million offer earlier this week, Newcastle were attempting to advance with their interest in Ekitike.

However, Liverpool’s recent efforts to land Isak suggest they have received some private encouragement in the form of contraindications.

You can anticipate Liverpool’s interest in Isak to continue even if their decision to concentrate on Ekiti is realized.

As things stand, the former Real Sociedad forward will leave Newcastle for their final two years of his contract in the summer, when things are in much worse shape.

Of course, Liverpool may think they don’t need another centre-forward when they enter the transfer window next summer, with or without Ekitike.

However, it’s unlikely that Isak will be too far from their thoughts if they do.

With Gyokeres set to leave for Arsenal in the future, Newcastle can rest assured that the wolves will remain out of their path for at least this window.

Isak’s merits are obvious from a performance standpoint because the 25-year-old is establishing himself as one of Europe’s elite center forwards.

Newcastle are also aware of the pros and cons of selling Isak, especially given their repeated claim that he is not for sale.

His value has skyrocketed as a result of Ekitike’s rise as one of the continent’s top young strikers. His asking price is a major factor in Newcastle’s recent failure to sign the French striker.

The rise of Ekitike has also brought in the top clubs from Europe.

It’s difficult to ignore Liverpool when they knock. The Merseysiders made the switch in a deal worth more than £70 million after scoring 26 goals in 47 appearances for Frankfurt.

While Newcastle’s waiting for a new striker moves on, Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes wants to close the deal with Ekitike by the weekend.

Although they are interested in Wissa, it will be interesting to see how Bryan Mbeumo’s potential move to St James’ Park might be impacted by Manchester United’s most recent bid for Brentford team-mate.

Given the upheaval that has already affected the west London club, Brentford are adamant they don’t want to lose Wissa and Mbeumo this summer.

Newcastle have always stated that their star striker is not available for sale.

They do not want to give up any of their star names because Champions League football is in full swing this year.

Newcastle are in a comfortable PSR position, just like Liverpool, thanks to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Isak probably had to actively lobby for a move since he only has three more years on his contract.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport, “Newcastle are not under any pressure to sell from a PSR perspective.”

“The good news for Newcastle is that the PSR assessment for the three years ending June 30, 2025 will not include the losses of £73 million in 2021-22.

“Neerland lost £157 million in pretaxes up until June 30, 2024.”

The club’s losses for 24-25 are likely to be much lower because of increased commercial revenues, matchday earnings from cup victories, and increased broadcast earnings from a Premier League win in fifth place, in addition to bonuses for Champions League qualifying next season.