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Eddie Howe with Alexander Isak(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Liverpool might be closing in on the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, but that has not stopped speculation about their interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.

The Reds have agreed a deal worth up to £79m with the Bundesliga outfit, with the Frenchman set to undergo a medical on Tuesday ahead of finalising his move to Anfield.

Including the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose £29m switch from Valencia was agreed last summer, the signing of Ekitike will take Liverpool’s spend to just short of £300m.

But the Reds’ business might not end there with further attacking recruits and a new centre-back also possible arrivals.

READ MORE:I lost my star striker to Liverpool - Alexander Isak's head will have been turned by transfer talkREAD MORE:Alexander Isak agent has left door open for Liverpool transfer as intrigue grows

Liverpool are likely to need at least a second new forward, given the ongoing uncertainty regarding the futures of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Federico Chiesa.

Yet having committed to spending up to £79m on Ekitike, the jury is out on whether the Reds would then follow that up by also making a move for Isak - who would cost over £120m.

The Swede’s future remains up in the air regardless, after he was left out of the Newcastle squad for their friendly defeat to Celtic on Saturday.

Eddie Howe would confirm such a decision was made in response to the ongoing transfer speculation.

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One of Isak’s agents, Gonzalo Gaitan, would then set tongues wagging and prompt further uncertainty and speculation when admitting that they are weighing up ‘all options’ for the Swede.

“We are indeed studying and analysing all options,” he said in an interview with Saudi Arabian publication Arriyadiyah.

“And we may be close to finalising the next step for the player, without revealing any details regarding whether Isak will transfer or stay with Newcastle."

With the uncertainty around Isak’s future stemming from Newcastle’s failure to offer him a new long-term contract with a warranted pay-rise, his representatives are evidently ‘playing the game’ when it comes to their client’s future.

Fuelling the uncertainty will only strengthen their hand when it comes to deciding the Swede’s future, be it being rewarded with the contract he wants at St.

James’ Park or earning a big-money move away.

And off the back of such comments, if we then take a closer look at Howe’s own responses during his various post-match media duties after losing to Celtic, it is clear Isak’s future is by no means as secure as he would like it to be.

While insisting the Magpies had not received a formal approach from Liverpool, he admitted he could not offer 100% clarity on Isak’s future and would only go as far as sharing his belief he will still be a Newcastle player when their season starts on August 16.

“No, there’s been no formal approach,” he said.

It is perhaps an intriguing coincidence that both clubs are touring at the same time.

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With both clubs set to report back to the United Kingdom at the end of the month, it would seem there are plenty more twists and turns to come when it comes to Isak’s future.

Gaitan’s claim about his client’s future might have pricked Liverpool ears, but Howe’s own admissions, while trying to carefully manage the unwanted transfer saga, spoke volumes.

While a concrete move from the Reds for the Swede is by no means guaranteed, they will continue to monitor his situation with interest with Newcastle increasingly aware that, despite their best efforts, Isak’s future with the club very much remains up in the air.


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