‘Newcastle land double-your-money windfall’ after Liverpool’s ‘record-breaking’ Alexander Isak bid
Newcastle’s transfer decisions on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike will be motivated by the opportunity to secure a massive cash boost next season.
The Magpies are fresh off their most successful season of the 21st century after securing their first piece of major silverware in 70 years, and qualification for the Champions League.
However, Eddie Howe’s side has failed to maintain that momentum, and a frustrating start to the transfer window has followed.
Newcastle have so far missed out on Joao Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo, and Jarell Quansah, whilst James Trafford’s move from Burnley is taking longer than expected.
To go with those failed deals, Football Insider revealed on 15 July that Liverpool have discussed a record-breaking £130million bid for Isak.
The offer coincided with Newcastle moving for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Ekitike, although following interest from the Reds, Howe’s team now look to have pulled out of the race for the Frenchman [BBC Sport].
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, finance expert Stefan Borson explained that whilst it may appear that the Bundesliga striker appeared to be a replacement for Isak, that was unlikely to be the case.
The Swedish striker is fresh off a season in which his Premier League goal tally was only bettered by Mohamed Salah.
Newcastle not looking for Alexander Isak replacement
Borson explained that rather than looking for an Isak replacement, Newcastle were actually focusing on adding to their squad in a bid to improve their performance in the Champions League.
Following the revamp of the competition’s format, the Magpies are now in a position to double the £30m they made from competing in Europe’s most prestigious tournament last time around in the 2023/24 season.
Borson said: “I’d be surprised to be honest, given the contractual situation [if Isak were to be replaced by Ekitike].
“He’s got three years left, it seems to me it would be a strange trade to make at this stage, you know, they’re gonna have to pay something like 75% of whatever fee they’d get for Isak anyway to get Ekitike.
“So I suspect it is to supplement the squad and possibly to give themselves a better chance than last time in the Champions League.
“And the prize is so much more significant this time around in the Champions League, if you look at what Newcastle netted from the first time around two years ago, it was probably about, well, we know because they told us it was £30million plus match day, a little bit of match day on top.
“And this time it’s going to be more than double that, just because of the way the new model works.
“So they’ve got more budget, and I think they’re going to want to be better resourced to compete, and I would think that’s part of the intent rather than selling what is in essence their best player.
“I mean that would seem to me to be completely counterproductive and unnecessary at this stage.”
Newcastle eye Conor Gallagher deal amid transfer chaos
Following a quiet opening to the transfer window, the Magpies find themselves thrown into chaos with deals for Ekitike, Isak, and various other players now gaining momentum.
And Mick Brown told Football Insider that Newcastle are now looking at Conor Gallagher.
At the back end of last season, Joelinton’s injury left Howe’s side in disarray, forcing the ex-Bournemouth manager to completely overhaul his tactical set-up, and his team almost missed out on Champions League football as a result.
Gallagher is interested in a return to the Premier League after a season in Spain with Atletico Madrid, but Newcastle will need to ward off interest from Aston Villa in the 25-year-old.