By YASEEN ZAMAN
Published: | Updated:
Liverpool fans are convinced that Hugo Ekitike may have just dropped a major hint regarding Alexander Isak with his recent comments.
The £79million striker was unveiled this week after completing his big-money move from Eintracht Frankfurt, making him the Reds’ fifth signing of the summer.
But the Premier League champions may not stop there, as Mail Sport exclusively reported on Thursday that Isak will explore his options away from Newcastle, with Liverpool circling.
Having already splashed almost £300m on arrivals this summer, many are wondering if Liverpool have the funds for Isak, and whether there would be room for the Sweden international in their already stacked forward line.
While Ekitike is no accountant, he seemed to indirectly answer the latter question when asked where his preferred position on the football field is.
The Frenchman said: ‘I can’t define myself only as a striker [who likes] to finish. I like to play, I like to be in the game, in the collective part of play [and] create also.
Hugo Ekitike sent Liverpool fans into a frenzy after he said he ‘likes to play with another striker’
Reds supporters quickly took to social media to speculate that Ekitike was hinting at playing alongside Alexander Isak
Isak will explore a move away from Newcastle this summer, with Liverpool understood to be interested
‘So, I can do both – I can play alone and I like to play also with another striker.’
Those comments immediately caught the attention of Liverpool fans on social media, who are now speculating that the club may be planning to pair Ekitike with another marquee attacking name – with Isak the most obvious candidate.
One fan wrote on X: ‘He’s already been told Isak is coming.’
Another said: ‘He knows Isak is coming…’
A third commented: ‘Bet slot has told him you’ll be playing with Isak too.’
Isak, who has not travelled with Newcastle on their preseason tour of the Far East, is keen to leave the club for a new challenge.
With three years still remaining on his contract, Mail Sport understands that the forward is valued at a whopping £150m by the Tyneside club.
Leading the line at No 9, Isak helped guide Newcastle to their first major domestic trophy in 70 years, winning the Carabao Cup in March, and qualify for the Champions League with a fifth place finish in the Premier League last term.
Isak has been training alone and has not travelled with Newcastle on their tour of the Far East
He was one of the most prolific forwards in Europe last season, netting 23 goals and providing six assists in the Premier League
He netted 23 goals and provided six assists in the Premier League – 29 goal contributions in total, with only Mohamed Salah (47) playing a hand in more goals than Isak.
Despite the Swede’s wish to leave, Eddie Howe and the Newcastle board are eager to keep Isak at St James’ Park and would like to agree fresh terms with the striker, even if it leads to an exit next summer.
In total, Isak has scored 62 goals from 109 matches for Newcastle and, under Howe, has developed into one of the most coveted strikers in world football.
Any sale would likely command a British record in excess of the £116m Liverpool paid for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen last month.
