Sky Sports activities takes a have a look at the striker tug of struggle happening 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 look like specializing in a deal for Hugo Ekitike after being informed by Newcastle that Isak shouldn’t be 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.
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Watch Hugo Ekitike’s targets and assists from the 2024/25 season
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 options.
His sport is similar to Isak’s and he could be cheaper, but with potential to turn out to be one of many Premier League’s marquee strikers after a profitable 12 months in Germany.
How can Liverpool afford to signal a striker after signing Florian Wirtz?
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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 data indicated they may probably lose an additional £200m this summer season and nonetheless be compliant with Revenue & Sustainability Guidelines (PSR) – the place golf equipment are permitted to lose £105m over a three-year interval.
In accordance with soccer finance knowledgeable 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 additional £158m and nonetheless be compliant subsequent summer season.
And whereas Liverpool have already spent round £185m on new gamers within the present window – including a fee of up to £116m for Florian Wirtz – the Reds posted a membership document income of £613.8m for the 2023-24 season, partly resulting from industrial success.
That determine will solely improve on the 2024-25 season accounts given Liverpool added Champions League soccer, knockout qualification for that match 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 underneath PSR guidelines, and the Reds may additional enhance gross sales figures by the tip of the summer season.
Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott and Luiz Diaz are all additional potential departures, though a Diaz exit is currently less likely despite Bayern Munich’s attempts to prise him away.
Do Newcastle have a dilemma?
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Check out our picks of one of the best targets from Alexander Isak’s Premier League profession to this point
Whereas the state of affairs across the two golf equipment and the 2 strikers involved is difficult, many have already simplified the state of affairs to Liverpool presenting Newcastle with this dilemma: promote us your star striker or we’ll transfer on your essential striker goal as a substitute.
Given Ekitike has all the time been a participant Liverpool have wished, and Newcastle have stood agency on Isak, it’s extra possible that Liverpool have made one last verify 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 season 2022, earlier than he determined to go to PSG.
If Isak does not go this summer season, the Swedish worldwide could be very prone to go subsequent 12 months.
Recruiting Ekitike now would permit Newcastle to get him up to the mark this season earlier than he probably takes over the mantle of the primary man subsequent summer season. It might additionally give Newcastle the liberty to choose on Isak as a result of shopping for Ekitike (or some other striker) could be cheaper now than after the prospect of a document 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 will now have to return to the drafting board once more.
Nonetheless, if they’re gazumped once more, there are a lot extra high choices in the marketplace, together with Benjamin Sesko and Yoane Wissa.
Newcastle have loads of strategic pondering to do.
May Isak and Ekitike actually play collectively?
May Newcastle have each forwards up entrance in the identical group?
It is an enchanting proposition, have been the pendulum to swing again in Newcastle’s favour.
Whether or not Eddie Howe was a 4-2-4 with Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon flanking the duo on the wings, or shifting one star ahead out broad to utilise them each, we would by no means know.
However Ekitike would unlikely have been signed to take a seat on the bench, with the plan for him to enhance Isak – this season no less than – as had been the hope for Joao Pedro earlier than he opted for Chelsea as a substitute.
Isak and Ekitike are very comparable gamers. Not solely are the striker pair’s league numbers final season virtually similar, however in addition they undertake comparable areas of the pitch.
Isak and Ekitike have very comparable warmth maps, particularly by way of dropping deep
In addition they obtain passes from team-mates in comparable areas of the pitch
Ekitike’s warmth and cross maps hints at them doing lots of the identical 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 will most likely have been extra possible that they have been interchangeable than deployable as a entrance two.
If Liverpool do not get Isak or Ekitike, then who may they transfer for as a substitute?
Jamie Carragher stated earlier this summer season Liverpool want a centre ahead they usually have wished to make a change in that place by permitting Darwin Nunez to probably depart.
It appears now as if they may push for Ekitike and have a very good likelihood of getting him – however it’s nonetheless attainable they find yourself with neither.
It is going to actually take greater than what would have been a Newcastle club-record bid of £70m to get Ekitike out of Frankfurt.
There isn’t any 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 path.
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 are not any ensures. One telephone name and instantly every little thing shifts…
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