Summer transfer windows have been labelled “crazy” before, with enormous fees being paid to sign players and huge transfers proving successful – or not. In recent years, old powerhouses, clubs of great history and long-standing traditions, have been challenged in the transfer market by those that came into money with changes of ownerships.
Now, however, a rather interesting battle is unfolding within the Premier League ranks as a club of great history challenges one that relatively recently got into “oil money”.
Already boasting a striker of great quality in Alexander Isak, Newcastle decided to give Alexander Isak some competition, or possibly high-quality cover, and made their move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. Liverpool, meanwhile, only have Darwin Nunez as an out-and-out striker, and the Uruguay international has not exactly lived up to expectations at Anfield; he is currently expected to leave.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have often been criticized in the past for not being willing to spend too much in the market, watching on year after year as Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea took numerous big names coming into the Premier League for themselves. But after replacing Jurgen Klopp with Arne Slot last summer and the Dutchman earning the board’s trust by guiding the team to the 2024/25 league title, they’ve initiated a proper squad rebuild by going for proven quality in various areas. Along with getting the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez boost their wide defensive positions, they’ve broken the Premier League transfer record with the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, and they’ve reportedly shown ambition to do it again.
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According to numerous reports, the Merseysiders informed Newcastle of their willingness to pay a total of £120million for Isak. The Magpies obviously didn’t like this, so they immediately responded by putting up a “not for sale” sign on the Swede, even though early whispers indicated that he might be willing to leave St. James’ Park for Anfield. And Liverpool wasted no time in putting their ‘plan B’ into operation – they’ve made an official approach to Eintracht for Ekitike, likely aware of Newcastle’s interest in the 23-year-old.
Newcastle have thus been placed in a huge dilemma. They don’t look likely to win this battle – not on both fronts, anyway. They obviously don’t want to part ways with one of their best players like this, not only because they need his goals and overall attacking contribution and want to continue the rise they’ve been accomplishing since the Saudi takeover, but also because letting that happen would be a sign of weakness in the face of the reigning champions. But if Liverpool swoop in and take a transfer target they’ve been ready to pay big for, the message would arguably be the same.
They could keep Isak – whether against his will or not, remains to be seen – they are, after all, in total control with three years left on his contract. But they could also let go of their pride, take the £120million, go back for Ekitike and possibly add some of their own money to that sum and make another addition to their squad, in the same position or elsewhere.
It certainly isn’t an easy decision to make. Liverpool themselves were in a similar, if not worse, position in the summer of 2017 when Barcelona came and offered big money for Philippe Coutinho. In the end, they kept the Brazilian for six more months to save some dignity, and then agreed to sell for the kind of money that helped them get Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Fabinho.
With these additions, the Merseysiders went on to win almost everything there is to win in club football and never looked back, maybe even reveling a little in the fact that Coutinho’s spell at Barcelona turned out disastrous. Luis Suarez, another one who left Liverpool for Barcelona in such circumstances, and Coutinho himself, were both part of the Barcelona team that suffered a stunning 4-0 defeat at Anfield in the Champions League semifinals in 2018/19, before Liverpool went on to win the competition by beating Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
Is that story something Newcastle can use as an example, a torch lighting the way, in their own current plight?
For the time being, it seems the Magpies are leaning towards keeping Isak and letting Liverpool have Ekitike. Whether that’s their decision made, remains to be seen.
🚨🔴 Understand Liverpool are advancing today in club to club talks with Eintracht for Hugo Ekitike.
While Isak deal depends on final decision by Newcastle as they insist on not-for-sale stance…
…Liverpool also progressing on both club and player side for Ekitike. pic.twitter.com/eqjQ75GGy9
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2025
