Isaac battle: Liverpool takes action

Newcastle team reporter Chris Waugh published a special article titled: "The transfer battle between Isaac and Ekitic is a real test of Newcastle's ambitions." This is not breaking news or insider news, but insights from close to the club’s people, and the balanced perspective it provides is always worth reading.

Let's see what the article says:

Newcastle's long-term goals are clear, and they aspire to be top clubs and consolidate their position among the football elite. But the current situation may reveal the true trajectory of their medium- and short-term development. For months, the club has stated on public and private occasions that Isaac is not a product. But, as the old saying goes: Action is better than empty talk.

As of Wednesday morning, Newcastle's position on Liverpool's interest in Isaac has not changed: they still claim he is a non-sale product and say the potential Ekitic signing will be a supplement to the roster, not a replacement. Private conversations show that Chairman Yasir Rumayan is a super fan of Isaac and he will not allow the Swedish striker to be sold.

Theory all sounds firm. But Liverpool is testing this statement with practical actions. Newcastle has backed one of the world's wealthiest sovereign wealth funds, and in four years, they have climbed from a relegation battle to the Champions League. They are approaching the ranks of elites, but the gap remains, reflected in their financial resources, reputation, trophy honors and attractiveness to top players.

If Isaac is attracted by the prospect of joining Liverpool, it is generally speculated that he is indeed the case. Although this is still a speculation, the difficulty of retaining him has increased greatly. Especially if he pushes for a transfer himself (Newcastle has long thought he wouldn't do it), the situation will be trickier. This may also be facing a test soon.

Liverpool may not be as attractive as Real Madrid or Barcelona for today's players, but they are the current Premier League champions and can be said to be the closest club in English football to these two Spanish giants. Because of this, Liverpool's interest in Isaac and Newcastle's response felt like a decisive moment.

's sale of Isaac for £120 million will completely eliminate any concerns about profit and sustainability rules (PSR) for the foreseeable future. This fund can be used directly to reinvest and strengthen the team's lineup. If Newcastle then successfully signs Ekitic, they will get a replacement and have a reserve of funds to strengthen other positions. Ekitik is three years younger than Isaac and has the potential to grow into a world-class player.

But even after weighing and considering, there are still risks. No one knows whether Ekitic can adapt well to English football, just like no one can confirm when Isaac arrives in 2022. Winning the Ekitic battle would be a declaration, but far from important is how Newcastle deals with Liverpool's offensive against Isaac.

If Newcastle rejects all offers on Isaac, it will show how serious the club leadership is about its stated ambitions. Even if it means keeping an unhappy player and selling him a year later, it will be a more logical way to exit, after all, with two years left on his contract.

Selling Isaac now can cause damage. Losing the Ekitic battle would be a blow, but they can recover from it. If Isaac joins Liverpool, they may regret it for many years to come.

Newcastle has always been so firm in his position. If he retreats at this time, it will not only damage the team's strength, but also damage his reputation. Other clubs will smell the weak. The saying "Isaac is not a product" has been repeatedly emphasized. Now, we will see if it can really carry the weight that fans expect.