You may be reading this thinking ‘not another Hugo Ekitike update’, but this sudden saga involving the Frenchman, Frankfurt, Alexander Isak and Liverpool feels massive.
Massive in terms of our striker department (in and out), the context of our summer window, and those enormous ambitions Saudi PIF and Yasir Al-Rumayyan have promised us regarding our five-year plan and beyond.
In the last 24 hours, we’ve seen David Ornstein report on Liverpool approaches for Isak and Ekitike, all while we remain adamant the Swede is not for sale and push to sign the Frankfurt star to play alongside him.
But what now? Well there has been a strong update from North East reporter Luke Edwards, who has released a new exclusive for The Telegraph on Wednesday afternoon.
He reports that Newcastle’s stance is clear: Isak is not for sale and Liverpool’s attempt to poach him has only intensified our pursuit of Ekitike.
Edwards writes that PIF are ‘unimpressed’ by Liverpool’s attempts to ‘bully’ Newcastle into the sale of Isak and not only plan to keep him, but are pushing ahead to buy Ekitike in a ‘power play’ of our own.
They face strong competition for the 23-year-old, with Liverpool also keen, but The Telegraph report that we’ve held positive talks with Ekitike’s camp over the past 24 hours after our first offer worth £65m (£4.5m less than other reports suggest) was rejected.
Newcastle feel Liverpool have tried to unsettle Isak by making a public approach, despite knowing our ‘not for sale’ stance. However, Toon chiefs are ‘unflustered’ by the tactics at play and will return with an improved bid for Ekitike, hoping this will be enough to land a long-term target Eddie Howe has wanted to sign since his Reims day in 2022.
Liverfool have opened talks with Frankfurt!
X.Y,WHY,MAN.(Quote)
Isak not said no to Liverpool yet, so could be leaving the Flog on the Tyne club for much better prospects.
Bob Dowie(Quote)
The best thing PIF can do is stop sponsoring the cartel and stop buying their overpriced players for Saudi teams.
Oh dear Bob a lucky promotion and you raise your head LMAO smb
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Come on PIP, teach Liverpooo a valuable lesson, do put the scousers they can’t have their own way, Isak not for sale at any price, beat them to Etitkie and make us a side to be respected !!
We will kick their backsides again at SJP, shut them up, the self entitled fools !!
PEDSTER(Quote)
mactoon(Quote)
Got to admit Newcastle are a very amusing club considering that they last won the league in 1929.
peter smith(Quote)
Zzzzzzzzz mate ya boring
Try farce book for bites
V(Quote)
I would be over the moon if they came back with a better offer and snatched Ekitike from under Liverpools nose. Having the both of them would really be a statement but now they have approached Frankfurt we need to make sure the next bid is acceptable so stop messing about and get it done.
mactoon(Quote)
Ever thought that today’s players play for future cups and honours and don’t go to clubs based on what they have done in the past mr Jones 👍🏆
V(Quote)
If i were in charge of pif, i would by loads of liverpool and pl major sponsors/kit makers companies, like nike, addidas, puma, standard chartered, emirates, snap dragon etc.. than ruin all there teams by running down there sponsor contract and refusing to continue after.
Bob(Quote)
Pif is sponsoring the Sela Cup with £100m
PremAndUp(Quote)
oh dear another SMB or are you a glory hunter that has never been to liverpool in their lives
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
He’s going no f@cking where
John(Quote)