LIVERPOOL have declared war on Newcastle by opening talks with Eintracht Frankfurt to snatch Hugo Ekitike from Toon’s clutches.
The Reds are ready to scupper the Magpies’ swoop for the French forward, 23, after being told top target Alexander Isak is not for sale at any price by the North East club.
for the 25-year-old Swedish striker.
But now Arne Slot is ready to make a power play and throw a grenade on Eddie Howe’s plans to break Newcastle’s transfer record and pair up Isak with .
SunSport understands officially approached German side Frankfurt today to begin discussions over a fee for Ekitike.
It’s the latest twist in the double transfer battle between the Merseyside giants and .
And this latest development could potentially force Toon’s 25-year-old Swedish superstar into shelving negotiations for a new-and-improved contract at St. James’ Park.
Toon’s 27-goal top scorer was originally promised a new package by the Magpies’ former co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
But one of the first decisions by now ex-sporting director Paul Mitchell last summer was to put those negotiations on ice – leaving both the hotshot and his camp disappointed over the previous regime’s commitment not being honoured.
The now-departed Mitchell, who was navigating Toon through tricky PSR waters, took the view Isak was already well paid on £130,000-a-week and that his future was secure due to being tied to the club until 2028.
Isak still produced on the pitch, firing Newcastle to their first major piece of silverware for 70 years and securing Champions League qualification, but there has been no progress since on whether he is willing to commit his long-term future to the club.
Though they are willing to smash their £150,000-a-week pay ceiling and make him the best-paid player with an annual package worth more than £10m-a-year.
Talks were planned for this summer but Liverpool’s interest threatens to throw a bomb into those plans – although Howe continues to dig his heels in and refuses to lose his talisman.
have been defiant that last season’s 27-goal top scorer was going nowhere and are prepared to offer him improved terms on his £130,000-a-week deal to stay.
His dream, having already added Isak’s international team-mate Anthony Elanga to his attack, was to bring in Ekitike to play with the pair.
is desperate to make it third time lucky having missed out twice on Ekitike in 2022 as he opted for PSG and the Magpies instead signed £63m Isak from Sociedad.
But fears are now mounting that, with no verbal agreement in place between the player and Toon, if Liverpool’s interest is serious then he would find it hard to say no to them.
Frankfurt on Tuesday and are holding out for a figure closer to his £86m release clause.
Now the chase for the ace, who cost just £14m from PSG last summer, is hotting up after Liverpool’s attempt to hijack the move.
As reported yesterday, Isak has not yet pushed for an exit but it is felt he would be keen on joining the Premier League champions.
And Toon chiefs feel that Liverpool’s public pursuit of him and Ekitike is part of a ploy to try and unsettle him and force Newcastle’s hand.
Though, as it stands, Isak is still expected to head back with the Magpies squad from their pre-season camp in Austria and face Celtic in a friendly at Parkhead on Saturday.
