Newcastle United have clarified their position regarding the future of Alexander Isak amid strong interest from Liverpool, following the club’s aggressive pursuit of French striker Hugo Ekitike.
According to a report by The Athletic, the Magpies are preparing a €75 million (approximately £65 million) offer to sign Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 23-year-old forward, who had previously endured a disappointing spell at Paris Saint-Germain, made a strong comeback in Germany, scoring 22 goals last season and reigniting interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Chelsea, Barcelona, and Liverpool.
However, it appears Newcastle have taken the lead in the race for his signature.
Despite widespread assumptions that Ekitike might be arriving at St. James’ Park as a direct replacement for Isak, Sky Sports notes that Newcastle have no intention of letting their Swedish forward leave.
Instead, head coach Eddie Howe is reportedly keen on deploying both Ekitike and Isak in a dual-attacking system, potentially forming one of the most formidable strike partnerships in the Premier League.
Isak, who joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 for a club-record fee, has been pivotal in the team’s recent success. His performances have attracted strong interest from Liverpool, who are actively seeking attacking reinforcements ahead of the new season.
However, Newcastle are firm in their desire to keep the 24-year-old, viewing him as a central part of their long-term project.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are now believed to be weighing up alternative options. French outlet Foot Mercato reports that the Reds recently held talks in Paris with representatives of Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The 28-year-old forward has impressed under Oliver Glasner, scoring 30 league goals across the last two campaigns. He also played a key role in France’s run to a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, scoring five goals in six games.
Mateta is reportedly available for a fee in the region of £45-50 million — significantly less than what Newcastle would demand for Isak.
With Liverpool’s summer spending already surpassing £150 million after the arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez, the club may be looking for a more cost-effective forward option.
