Liverpool have seemingly decided that their new number nine will be Hugo Ekitike after a whirlwind few days.
The Reds had always been expected to go for a big signing at centre-forward after Darwin Nunez ran out of opportunities at Anfield.
Despite a lack of movement during the opening weeks of the window, Alexander Isak had long been installed as Liverpool‘s ideal option.
Finally, the Reds made their play on Tuesday, making an approach to Newcastle with a view to offering £120m for Isak.
However, the Magpies appear to have stood firm on their ‘not for sale’ stance, forcing Liverpool to change tack.
Since then, it has been reported that Liverpool are closing in on Ekitike, with a deal hopefully in place by the weekend. But, with Isak looming so large on the Reds’ shortlist, is this transfer saga completely over? According to journalist Ben Jacobs, potentially not.
Liverpool may return for Alexander Isak
When reports surfaced recently that Newcastle were pushing hard to sign Ekitike, it gave Liverpool fans hope that Isak could be on his way to Anfield.
Part of the reason for that was because the two strikers are strikingly similar in playing style. It is difficult to see them playing together.
With Ekitike now on his way to Liverpool, some will deduce that the same logic applies. The Reds have a big-money striker similar to Isak, so surely their pursuit of the Newcastle man must be over? Speaking to streamer Grizz Khan, though, Jacobs says a door could yet open in the future.
“Ekitike is not a new deal, they ran the data, he scores highly, he’s versatile, in the box he’s got a bit of an old-style quality about him too, so a lot of attributes that fit the Liverpool system,” the journalist explains. “And yet, we know that Isak is, was, whichever way you want to look at it, the dream target. I don’t think Liverpool and Isak is over. But, perhaps for this window [it is].”
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“Newcastle’s own desire to bring in Ekitike, even if it was Ekitike and Isak, had an element of succession planning,” Jacobs continues.
“And they [Liverpool] will know that Newcastle, one day, there will come a point where Isak is sold. When that day comes, I still expect Liverpool to be there. Is it going to be now and in addition to Hugo Ekitike? You would think it highly unlikely. You can never say never with Liverpool and this window, but ultimately the urgency to get clarity on Isak was prompted by Newcastle moving for Ekitike and they didn’t want Ekitike to think they were all in on Isak and he was a back-up.
“The belief at the moment is that £120-130m would not be accepted, Newcastle are quite bullish, so for now Isak is not as active as it was 48 hours ago. It doesn’t mean they won’t revisit it in future windows or other points in time. But for now all the focus has switched to Ekitike.”
Is it definitely over for this summer?
As Jacobs says, there is little to no chance that Liverpool would even dream of signing Ekitike and Isak together this summer.
Forget the stylistic incompatibility for a moment, the finances involved would be truly crazy.
Nevertheless, there is yet to be a definitive statement that the door to Isak is completely closed to Liverpool at the moment.
Yes, Liverpool are advancing on Ekitike, but is it impossible that the Reds are getting everything in place on a deal for the Frenchman while still waiting for an answer from Isak and Newcastle? We would argue that it is not.
If it is Ekitike though, as looks especially likely, all eyes will be on him to perform and hit the ground running at Anfield. Should he falter and struggle, expect the stories around Isak to come back with a vengeance.
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