All week, we have been told that Newcastle are still pushing for Hugo Ekitike and making progress on a deal to sign the Frankfurt star.
Despite this supposed ‘power play’ from Liverpool of “if you don’t give us Isak, we’ll sign Ekitike”, it seems Newcastle remain determined to sign the Frenchman and won’t be bullied into backing down on Isak or walking away from Ekitike.
Sky Germany reported earlier today that we’ve held positive talks with Ekitike’s camp and made ‘significant progress’ in our pursuit of the 23-year-old, adding that an improved bid is imminent after our first offer worth just under £70m was rejected.
To me, it is very clear that Liverpool are all in for Isak. He’s the one they want, but they can’t have him unless they stump up an outrageous fee well above the £120m proposal sent our way. And even then Newcastle might stand firm.
Then comes tonight’s update from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg; the same journalist who was reporting earlier today that Newcastle are moving closer to a breakthrough.
He writes – ‘Understand Liverpool are willing to pay more than what Newcastle have offered for Hugo Ekitike, and Eintracht Frankfurt have been informed about it.’
‘There is no agreement between Newcastle and Frankfurt yet, despite advanced talks between Newcastle and the Ekitike camp.’
This feels like the sort of ‘update’ you can see straight through from Newcastle United perspective.
If Liverpool want him, they know what to do – make a bid. But they aren’t, they are just threatening to. If this is part of their ‘power play’, it feels a little weak and leaves Newcastle with the stronger hand.
I may be wrong, but I think Liverpool know Ekitike to Newcastle is advancing and they are doing all they can (without actually bidding) to make Frankfurt hold back on agreeing a deal with us.
They won’t want Newcastle to have the upper hand – we’d have them over a barrel with Isak if we got to Ekitike first – and it’s clear we’ve done a lot of work on landing the Frenchman over the past week, with Sky’s Keith Downie revealing talks in Germany last week and an invite to Austria for his reps on Monday.
I’d suggest that this continued and serious interest, along with our £70m bid rejected by Frankfurt, is a sign we are confident the player would join.
Frankfurt could be encouraged to hold off agreeing a quick deal with Newcastle if they are made to believe bigger offers are coming, but it’s all talk from Liverpool’s side at this point. If Ekitike isn’t convinced Liverpool REALLY want him, this could be a factor that’s maintaining Newcastle’s encouragement on the player’s side.
So, for me, in this complex and exhausting mini saga, four things will be key in the coming days:
- Will Liverpool actually bid for Ekitike?
- Who will Ekitike pick if they do?
- Will Frankfurt deal quickly or encourage a bidding war?
- What will be Isak’s next move in all of this?
All the talk last week, before we bid for Ekitike, was that Liverpool needed to sell before they could buy again. Particularly Nunez needed to go. Remember they were also strongly linked with Guehi which you’d have thought they’d have completed by now if they really wanted him
Keith(Quote)
Garbage.
A PL established team aren’t going to try and ‘force’ Newcastle to sell Isak, by pretending to submit a bid.
Do people really think, Liverpool are going to offer €100m for Etikite then say ‘ha, gotya’
Liverpool want a striker.
Etikite fits their profile as well as ours. If he comes to us great, if not we look elsewhere…. And keep Isak
Robin Taylor(Quote)
It’s the shear arrogance of these clubs (and their fans) that think they can bully a team into selling them their best player, because they’ve constantly done this to Newcastle over the last 50+ years they think they still can, well I’d like to inform them, that ship has sailed,,, 🖤 🤍
MorpethMag(Quote)
Completely agree with your take on this, its Isak they really want, they will bud for Etikite when they realise they cant have Isak i think. Not sure what the player himself will make of it! He knows we really want him, its our third time trying to buy him!
Martin Stephenson(Quote)
I think it is just a case of us being further down the road in our discussions with his representatives etc
Liverpool have only just joined the race so it early days for them.
Unfortunately for us as soon as he knows Liverpool are in for him its all over for Newcastle!
My only hope is Hugo has learned from his PSG experience that joining the so-called massive club is not always the best idea.
Hopefully Howe can sell the whole play up front with Isak forming one of the most lethal partnerships in world football!
I also hope Ekitike sees that our constant chasing of him over the last few years means how much we want him at Newcastle and not a pawn in Liverpool’s wannabe gangster Mafia style antics they have tried to pull over the last few days.
X.Y,WHY,MAN.(Quote)
Their Nunez sale plans have fallen through today too, Napoli were most interested but have pulled out and agreed a different striker deal. Lpool actually aren’t the geniuses they are made out to be, they got a pittance for ‘Trent’ having let him run his contract down, will lose Konate for free next yr too…And took so long over van **** \ Salah they have given them massive deals when they will start to decline at their age. Oh, and they also have Diaz desperate to move to a bigger club (bayern) but are turning down offers even though he has only 2 years left. The biased media say that is ‘great strength’ while insisting we have to bend on Isak who has 3 yrs and hasn’t said he wants to leave! It’s laughable 😂😂😂😂
East stand(Quote)
Hopefully Mo Bin Salman will do a bit of sabre rattling towards the horrid scouse barstewards.
Justice for the J39
Granny Clampett(Quote)
Lot of this is media frenzy it’s hard to tell truth from their usual lies
Newcastle refused to sell Gordon to liverpool last season the same will happen with isak .. even though no bid has been made
Hugo had one good season and was not good enough to play at PSG .. Jao Pedro cost £60 million and mbuemo likely similar…. both tested prem league one a world club champion … Hugo’s partner at Frankfurt .. marmoush sold to city for £45 million. Newcastle should pull the plug by the end of the week and move onto other candidates .. if Liverpool want a bidding war then let’s get them to pay £80 or £90 million for a good player but not a halland or a mbappe… Hugo is overpriced and over hyped .. a player who Eddie could develop but not worth the hassle or the money if it goes higher …Liverpool can’t win as newcastke have all the cards and choices
Mike(Quote)
I would absolutely refuse to sell Isak to Liverpool, even if he stated he wanted to sign for them (though Alex is a great guy and I would hope he would stay loyal). Even if we had to put him in the reserves, so be it. If we was foolishly let go, then 140M from Real Madrid or Barca, but not Liverpool.
If we don’t get Ekitike, it’s not that bad and lets quickly move on – to another striker to play alongside Isak!
Adam(Quote)
Liverpool are playing a dangerous game and it’s going to blow up in their faces . Squad will be short in defence and up top . Get guehi and Mateta, forget the rest.
Jansta(Quote)