Newcastle Break Silence on Isak’s Future Amid €75M Ekitike Chase and Liverpool’s Strong Interest

Newcastle United are rewriting their summer transfer script in jaw-dropping fashion as they push forward with a blockbuster move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, while standing firm on keeping star striker Alexander Isak, despite serious interest from Liverpool. 

In a move that signals serious intent ahead of the new season, Newcastle have intensified talks with Frankfurt while on a pre-season trip to Austria, aiming to bring in the prolific Frenchman.  

Ekitike, just 23, was a revelation last season, netting 22 goals and delivering 12 assists across all competitions to propel Frankfurt into the Champions League. His performances have drawn admiration from European heavyweights including Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool. 

But it’s the Magpies who are now leading the race. Sources confirm that Newcastle’s hierarchy sees Ekitike not as a replacement for Isak, but as a partner in a lethal new-look strike force. This ambition to pair both talents has massive tactical and financial implications. 

With Callum Wilson leaving the club as a free agent and a £55 million deal already sealed for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, Newcastle are keen to bolster their attacking arsenal. 

Ekitike’s release clause stands at a staggering €100 million (£86 million), but Newcastle are working to negotiate that down to around €75 million (£65 million). 

That figure would still surpass the club-record £63 million they paid for Isak in 2022, a transfer that is now under scrutiny due to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).  

According to The Athletic, signing Ekitike without offloading Isak could place the club in financial hot water. 

Yet, manager Eddie Howe is reportedly adamant: he wants both players. The plan? Deploy them side by side in a bold new formation, potentially transforming Newcastle’s offensive approach. 

Isak, who bagged 23 Premier League goals last season, remains one of the league’s most feared forwards.  

His link with Liverpool had raised alarms among fans, but the club’s message is now clear, they’re not selling. With Elanga joining the likes of Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, and Jacob Murphy on the wings, competition is fierce, and the front line looks sharper than ever. 

This isn’t Newcastle’s first flirtation with Ekitike. They nearly signed him for £20 million in January 2022, only for the deal to collapse on deadline day.  

Since then, the Magpies have tracked his progress closely, watching him blossom into one of Europe’s most coveted young strikers. Frankfurt only paid €17.5 million for him last summer but are poised for a massive payday. 

Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche acknowledged the buzz, telling Sport1: “He’s one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that. I’m glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that’s our motto: If a player develops faster than us, we let him go.” 

If Newcastle succeed in securing Ekitike, it could mark one of the boldest statements of the summer window, retaining Isak, fending off Liverpool, and assembling a two-headed attacking monster. It’s an audacious gamble that could either ignite a title push or trigger financial headaches. But one thing is certain: Newcastle are playing to win.