In the past 24 hours, Liverpool has moved closer to securing the signing of Frankfurt striker Arnaud Ekitike. Talks between the two sides made a breakthrough on Monday, with an agreement reached for the transfer, and Liverpool will spend £79 million to sign the France U21 national team forward.
However, as details of the deal are being discussed, the agent of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who has long been a potential target for the Reds, has also made comments in an interview.
Isak's agent Gonzalo Gaitan said: “We are indeed studying and analyzing all possible options, and we may soon determine Isak's next move, but we will not disclose any details about whether Isak will transfer or stay at Newcastle.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe decided to let Isak return to the club's base early during the friendly match against Celtic at the weekend, rather than having him sit in the stands to attract external attention, which has intensified speculation about him. The Swedish international was not included in Newcastle's squad for the 0-4 defeat to Celtic, as his fitness had not yet recovered to a level sufficient to play.
From Newcastle's perspective, it is widely believed that the player is unsettled due to the speculation surrounding his future, which is understandable. Moreover, the club's first contract extension offer proposed last year has still not been fulfilled, which has further troubled him.
Newcastle United's senior management is in turmoil as they do not have a sporting director and are searching for a chief executive, with current CEO Darren Eales set to step down due to health issues.
Although Isak's excellent performance last season showed that he was not significantly affected by the uncertainty about his future, the matter has particularly annoyed his agent. Newcastle's top brass have made it clear that they will not sell the player this summer, and in fact, they have no financial pressure to do so. They still hope to offer Isak a lucrative new contract.
But the longer the delay, the more likely the player is to have other ideas. Liverpool is keeping a close eye on the situation.
So, could there be a scenario where the Reds sign both Ekitike and Isak? It's unlikely, but not entirely impossible.
Of course, if these two signings are to happen, it will depend on whether other forwards leave. The long-term futures of Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz, Federico Chiesa, and Ben Doak are all in doubt.
The revenue from selling two or more of these players would go a long way towards Liverpool covering the potential transfer fees, which could exceed £200 million.
In that case, money would not be an issue. The real sticking point is that both Ekitike and Isak prefer to play as center forwards, and Slot has consistently opted for only one player in that position.
Of course, given that Slot is likely to increase rotation next season, bringing in more players is necessary. But would Ekitike agree to join Liverpool if he knew Isak was also moving to Anfield?
Slot has a clear vision of the players he wants, which played a role in successfully convincing Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Witz to join last month. This also supports the ongoing recruitment efforts led by sporting director Richard Hughes.
From Isak's perspective, his agent has, in some ways, done him a big favor. At the very least, it has put pressure on Newcastle to honor their promise of a better contract for Isak, while also making it clear that the player is not averse to a new challenge.
Liverpool has already broken the club's transfer record this summer, spending more than £250 million. However, a deal for Isak would far exceed that figure. The suspense surrounding the player continues.
