Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike(Image: Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Newcastle United are yet to receive any type of official offer from Liverpool for Alexander Isak – and remain around the table with Eintracht Frankfurt on Hugo Ekitike.
Chronicle Live understands that Newcastle are cool and calm on both fronts and are well equipped in terms of administration on their trip to Austria.
Head coach Eddie Howe and his technical staff are joined by the club’s football secretary Richard Hines who is essentially the key dealmaker in the camp with sporting director Paul Mitchell still not replaced. Hines’ involvement in Austria will be key for Newcastle progressing the paperwork around any deal for Ekitike should they be able to agree a fee with their German counterparts.
Newcastle are yet to receive any type of legitimate approach for Isak. Regardless of that, the stance remains that they do not want to sell although the Magpies now find themselves in a battle to sign Ekitike with the Reds.
Frankfurt have not had a satisfactory offer or suggestion from either Liverpool or Newcastle at this stage.
However, while United’s stance on Isak remains firm and that they don’t want to lose the £150m-rated striker, the wave of Liverpool talk has been brushed off as speculation and conjecture for now without any real offer or approach.
Sean Longstaff figures revealed
The North Shields lad looks set to say an emotional farewell to Newcastle after seven years with the first team. A medical at Leeds United has been lined up and the fee has been agreed between the two sides.
Newcastle look set to pick up £15m for Longstaff in a deal that will be pure profit in PSR terms. A deal in principle has been agreed for some time after Longstaff’s representatives Gol International had terms put to them earlier in the summer.
Interest in Odysseas Vlachodimos
Another departure at United could be the Greek international stopper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Signed from Nottingham Forest for £20m last summer to help move the Elliot Anderson deal along, the ex-Benfica man has made just one appearance for the Magpies so far in the Carabao Cup against Wimbledon.
But the 31-year-old is effectively for sale at the moment despite his presence in the Austrian training camp this week.
It is believed that there is interest from Real Betis in Spain, however, whether that proves to be a loan deal or permanent arrangement remains to be seen.
On the keeper situation last season Howe had told Chronicle Live: “We will take a view on that. The goalkeeper situation has been slightly difficult this year.
“We have a high number of goalkeepers which probably wasn’t ideal. Those players have handled that situation very, very well. It’s not easy. They have been really good professionals, all of them.
“They have created a really good team network and trained really well. They have helped whoever has been playing be at their best for match day. I am full of compliments for them. But let’s wait and see.”
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