Liverpool and Newcastle have been engaged in a high-stakes transfer stand-off over Alexander Isak this summer.

It remains to be seen how the drama finally unfolds, but with the Reds pushing hard to sign Isak and the Magpies trying everything they can to stand firm, something has to give.

One of the key points of contention from Newcastle’s end seems to be their desire not to sell to what they deem to be a direct rival.

Of course, the Toon are entitled to believe what they like, and they did beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final last year, but the two clubs are not on a level footing.

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Nevertheless, Newcastle do aspire to reach Liverpool’s status in the near future, and one way of doing that is by developing top young players through the academy, either to play in the first team or to sell for profit.

The Liverpool academy have become adept at pinching top young talent from around the country in recent years as well, and as Newcastle aim to replicate their success, they look set to poach one of the Reds’ very own prospects.

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Head onto social media, and you will find it full of Newcastle supporters absolutely fuming with perceived bad behaviour from Liverpool throughout the Isak saga.

But the Magpies appear to have been doing some behind the scenes work of their own on a young Liverpool star.

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Back in July, The Daily Mail reported that Newcastle were ‘poised to pull off a coup’ and sign Liverpool teenager Isaac Moran after he turned down a contract offer at Anfield.

Although his arrival on Tyneside has yet to be officially confirmed, Moran finally announced his departure from Liverpool on Thursday with a heartfelt post on Instagram.

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“I have made the tough decision to leave Liverpool Football Club,” said the 16-year-old.

Thank you.”

Many Liverpool fans are likely to be completely unaware of who Moran is.

However, losing an academy player to a Premier League rival is always a concern.

The young midfielder has seemingly been at Liverpool for pretty much his whole life, with photos from his Instagram post showing Moran playing in kits as far back as the 2014/15 season.

Liverpool obviously rated him highly, otherwise they would not have made Moran an offer to stay at the club.

He played with the U18s for the first time last season and has also featured for England at youth level.

Clearly, there is still a long way to go before Liverpool can declare Moran as one who got away, but in a summer where the Reds look set to take their best player, Newcastle will still see this as a rare transfer win over the champions.


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