‘Alexander Isak transfer must be blocked’ as he’s sent home after Liverpool offer news
Newcastle United’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike is nowhere near as important as keeping Alexander Isak this summer.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said that retaining Isak’s services should be Newcastle‘s priority over any incoming transfers.
Newcastle had launched a £70million bid for Ekitike with Eintracht Frankfurt demanding £86m for the striker’s signature, but that offer opened the door for Liverpool to enquire about Isak’s availability.
Liverpool responded to Newcastle’s Ekitike bid by lining up a mammoth £130m offer of their own for Isak, and Robinson told Football Insider that the latter must be the Magpies’ priority instead of signing Ekitike.
Ekitike looks set to leave Frankfurt regardless of Newcastle cooling their interest in order to put full focus behind keeping Isak, and Robinson argued that this was the best move for Eddie Howe’s side to make.
However, Isak was left out of Newcastle’s squad to face Celtic in Saturday’s pre-season friendly defeat.
Eddie Howe took the decision to omit Isak from the squad to travel to Parkhead following the intense scrutiny over his future. The Newcastle manager insisted, though, there was confidence Isak would be at St James’ Park for the start of the season.
Isak to dominate Newcastle discourse amid Ekitike transfer chase
Isak’s long-term future is by no means secure at St. James’ Park despite a change of priorities, with Liverpool’s initial approach and club-record offer for Isak potentially unsettling the Newcastle frontman.
Liverpool have since turned their attention towards Ekitike and stand on the brink of completing a deal to sign him, a move which Robinson thinks will give Newcastle the best possible chance of keeping Isak.
Speaking on the latest Insider’s Inside Track, Robinson said that while Ekitike could have been a superb addition for Newcastle, signing him pales in comparison to the importance of retaining Isak this summer.
“Newcastle fans will want to keep Isak, but also Ekitike’s a top player to bring in”, Robinson told Football Insider.
“From my point of view, keeping Isak is a bigger priority than bringing in another striker of that kind of value and that type of level.
“There’s other strikers out there – if it means them losing Isak to get Ekitike, I don’t think that’s a good window for Newcastle.
“I think they’ve got to keep Isak as a priority and add to what they’ve got. If Newcastle start the season with Isak, they will have succeeded in this window. The other deals would be a bonus.”
Newcastle given no leeway in attempt to retain Isak
The Magpies may have saved themselves over £70m as Liverpool close in on a deal to sign Ekitike over Isak, but it’s unclear if this will provide a long-term benefit with Newcastle on the brink of a PSR breach.
Liverpool’s interest in Isak is long-standing and even the signing of Ekitike won’t change that, particularly if Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian owners bolster their transfer kitty with a big-money move for Darwin Nunez.
With over a month left to run in the transfer window and PSR guidelines to meet, Newcastle can’t afford to rest as the uncertainty over Isak‘s future continues and the player’s head begins to potentially be turned.