As every football journalist scrambles for information and updates on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, one of our better North East reporters has shared some insight this afternoon.
With Newcastle’s push to sign Hugo Eitike forcing the Reds to show their hand and pursue Isak in fear of missing out on both, it’s a complex matter involving two players, two Premier League clubs with big ambitions and a Bundesliga side in Frankfurt hoping for a bidding war.
But what is Isak’s stance and why is his situation at Newcastle considered ‘complicated’?
The Mail’s Craig Hope reports that Isak’s next move in this striker saga could prove key, and reveals that the Swede feels a little let down by a recent broken promise.
Hope reveals that there was a promise of a new contract from previous co-owners, presumably Amanda Staveley, but this has not been honoured a year on from her exit along with Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
He then goes on to state that former sporting director Paul Mitchell did not act on this and do what seemed right by the striker, feeling Isak was ‘well paid’ and in no position to need a new deal with four years still left to run last summer.
A year on, Hope states that there has been ‘no progress’ on a new deal since then. His contract still has three more years left to run, but it’s a frustrating revelation that doesn’t pain Mitchell in a very good light, not for the first time!
So, what’s next? Will Isak push for a move? Will Newcastle stand firm on their £150m+ valuation? Will Liverpool make a big play to sign him?
Hope states that Newcastle’s stance remains the same – they do NOT want to sell – and plan to offer Isak improved terms to reward another superb season.
However, it is ‘not yet known’ if he wants to sign a new deal, while Liverpool are expected to come forward with an offer, with Toon chiefs ‘braced’ for a formal bid from Merseyside.
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