Sky Sports activities takes a take a look at the striker tug of warfare occurring at Newcastle and Liverpool involving Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike – and solutions the important thing questions on the switch saga.
Which striker are Liverpool going for: Isak or Ekitike?
Liverpool seem like specializing in a deal for Hugo Ekitike after being instructed by Newcastle that Isak is just not on the market.
A day after Newcastle noticed a club-record £70m bid for Ekitike rejected, the Reds opened talks with Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday.
Sky Sports activities Information has all the time believed that Isak is Liverpool’s first-choice striker goal – however Ekitike has all the time been amongst their main alternate options.
His recreation is similar to Isak’s and he could be cheaper, but with potential to change into one of many Premier League’s marquee strikers after a profitable yr in Germany.
How can Liverpool afford to signal a striker after signing Florian Wirtz?
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Florian Wirtz says he is extraordinarily proud to be a Liverpool participant
Liverpool’s relative lack of exercise in the previous couple of home windows is a key purpose why their funds are wholesome.
The membership’s monetary information indicated they may probably lose an extra £200m this summer time and nonetheless be compliant with Revenue & Sustainability Guidelines (PSR) – the place golf equipment are permitted to lose £105m over a three-year interval.
Based on soccer finance professional Swiss Ramble, the Reds’ most up-to-date monetary outcomes confirmed Liverpool have truly made £48m within the present three-year PSR interval, partly resulting from modest latest switch spend.
Meaning Liverpool can lose an extra £158m and nonetheless be compliant subsequent summer time.
And whereas Liverpool have already spent round £185m on new gamers within the present window – together with a price of as much as £116m for Florian Wirtz – the Reds posted a membership file income of £613.8m for the 2023-24 season, partly resulting from business success.
That determine will solely enhance on the 2024-25 season accounts given Liverpool added Champions League soccer, knockout qualification for that event and in addition turned Premier League champions.
Academy product Jarell Quansah has already joined Bayer Leverkusen in a £35m deal that represents 100 per cent revenue beneath PSR guidelines, and the Reds might additional increase gross sales figures by the top of the summer time.
Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott and Luiz Diaz are all additional potential departures, though a Diaz exit is at present much less doubtless regardless of Bayern Munich’s makes an attempt to prise him away.
Do Newcastle have a dilemma?
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Check out our picks of the most effective objectives from Alexander Isak’s Premier League profession thus far
Whereas the state of affairs across the two golf equipment and the 2 strikers involved is sophisticated, many have already simplified the state of affairs to Liverpool presenting Newcastle with this dilemma: promote us your star striker or we’ll transfer in your predominant striker goal as a substitute.
Given Ekitike has all the time been a participant Liverpool have needed, and Newcastle have stood agency on Isak, it’s extra doubtless that Liverpool have made one ultimate test on whether or not Isak is feasible earlier than placing their eggs into the Ekitike basket.
As Premier League title winners, Liverpool are engaging potential employers.
However timing is essential for Newcastle, who tried to signal Ekitike in summer time 2022, earlier than he determined to go to PSG.
If Isak does not go this summer time, the Swedish worldwide may be very more likely to go subsequent yr.
Recruiting Ekitike now would permit Newcastle to get him in control this season earlier than he probably takes over the mantle of the principle man subsequent summer time. It could additionally give Newcastle the liberty to choose on Isak as a result of shopping for Ekitike (or every other striker) could be cheaper now than after the prospect of a file sale to Liverpool. Golf equipment would know Newcastle have cash to burn and would up their costs.
The Magpies have already missed out on Liam Delap and Joao Pedro – each to Chelsea – and should now have to return to the drafting board once more.
Nevertheless, if they’re gazumped once more, there are loads extra high choices in the marketplace, together with Benjamin Sesko and Yoane Wissa.
Newcastle have loads of strategic considering to do.
May Isak and Ekitike actually play collectively?
May Newcastle have each forwards up entrance in the identical staff?
It is an enchanting proposition, had been the pendulum to swing again in Newcastle’s favour.
Whether or not Eddie Howe was taking a look at a 4-2-4 with Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon flanking the duo on the wings, or transferring one star ahead out vast to utilise them each, we would by no means know.
However Ekitike would unlikely have been signed to sit down on the bench, with the plan for him to enrich Isak – this season at the least – as had been the hope for Joao Pedro earlier than he opted for Chelsea as a substitute.
Isak and Ekitike are very related gamers. Not solely are the striker pair’s league numbers final season nearly similar, however additionally they undertake related areas of the pitch.
Isak and Ekitike have very related warmth maps, particularly by way of dropping deep
Additionally they obtain passes from team-mates in related areas of the pitch
Ekitike’s warmth and go maps hints at them doing lots of the similar issues – dropping deep in direction of the centre circle however sustaining a penalty field presence.
With Champions League soccer and so many video games, it might most likely have been extra doubtless that they had been interchangeable than deployable as a entrance two.
If Liverpool do not get Isak or Ekitike, then who might they transfer for as a substitute?
Jamie Carragher stated earlier this summer time Liverpool want a centre ahead they usually have needed to make a change in that place by permitting Darwin Nunez to probably go away.
It seems to be now as if they’ll push for Ekitike and have an excellent likelihood of getting him – however it’s nonetheless potential they find yourself with neither.
It’ll actually take greater than what would have been a Newcastle club-record bid of £70m to get Ekitike out of Frankfurt.
There isn’t a scarcity of striker choices within the present market. Victor Osimhen is actually a participant Liverpool have had on their radar for some time in addition to Benjamin Sesko.
One other participant the Reds have been reportedly linked with is Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who was a goal for Arsenal in January, however he’s 29 and would current a shift in course.
Liverpool’s transfer for Ekitike has been given larger encouragement than Newcastle’s because it stands however in soccer – not least within the switch window – there aren’t any ensures. One cellphone name and immediately every part shifts…
Sky Sports activities to point out 215 reside Premier League video games from 2025/26
From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will enhance from 128 matches to at the least 215 video games completely reside.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.
