Newcastle United get the last laugh as Keith Downie shares news after Liverpool and Hugo Ekitike development

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Sadly for Newcastle United, they will not be signing Hugo Ekitike this summer. Still, the news is slightly easier to swallow amid a recent update on Alexander Isak. 

Indeed, Newcastle have dropped out of the race to sign Ekitike after seeing an offer rejected by Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this week. 

Ekitike now looks destined to join Liverpool instead, though Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in the 23-year-old forward. 

Isak’s future at Newcastle has been under some debate of late, too. Liverpool want to sign Isak, though there has never been any suggestion the club will look to sell this summer at least.  

Keeping the Sweden international has to be Newcastle’s priority this summer, so a recent update on Keith Downie of Sky Sports is promising. 

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Liverpool won’t sign Alexander Isak  

Quite whether or not Liverpool could actually have signed the striker this summer is up for debate.

Isak is happy at Newcastle, has three years on his contract and has expressed no outward desire to leave St James’ Park. 

Newcastle do not want to sell Isak, but further interest from Liverpool would still have been unwelcome.

Luckily, according to Downie on social media platform X, Liverpool will give up their attempts to sign Isak if they end up bringing Ekitike to Anfield. 

Newcastle United have won the battle with Liverpool – for now

Ekitike would have been a fine signing for Newcastle, there’s no doubting that.

Still, if it was a choice between the Frenchman and Isak next season, the Sweden star should win every time. 

Isak is a world class forward and Ekitike still looks a level below right now. Perhaps one day, the Liverpool-bound forward will close the gap. Right now, however, the Newcastle star is the better option.  

Newcastle have kept Isak from Liverpool this summer at least and that is brilliant news. It remains to be seen, however, how costly missing out on Ekitike will prove to be.