Newcastle United Target Ekitike to Join Liverpool
Liverpool's pursuit of Ekitike and Isak has been a major storyline in the transfer window, with Newcastle United determined to keep their star man. The club's Saudi ownership is trying to evolve the project, and selling Isak would be a negative move. With Liverpool closing in on a deal for Ekitike, the focus will now shift to whether they can sign Isak or if Newcastle will keep him.
Liverpool are closing in on a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike, with Newcastle United's initial bid of £70m turned down by the Bundesliga club. Newcastle United had been interested in signing Ekitike, but Liverpool have reached an agreement with the player over a six-year deal.
Manchester United have also been active in the transfer market, making a new £65m bid for Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo. The winger's agent revealed that the player is open to a move to Old Trafford, and Mbeumo has made 93 appearances for Brentford since making his debut in 2019. Meanwhile, Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Newcastle's Alexander Isak, with a package to sign the Sweden striker potentially costing up to £130m.
Newcastle have been steadfast in their stance that Isak is not for sale, and manager Eddie Howe has described him as "irreplaceable". Despite interest from Liverpool and Arsenal, Howe is confident that Isak will stay with the club, valuing him at over £150m. The transfer saga has moved at a rapid pace, with Liverpool initially pursuing Isak, but Newcastle tabling a £70m offer for Ekitike.
The transfer window is expected to continue to be busy, with Fulham the only Premier League side yet to complete a signing. Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes aims to close the deal for Ekitike by the end of the weekend, while Newcastle will be confident of keeping Isak during this window.