If anyone spots Eddie Howe appearing to be rehearsing lines on the steps of St James’ Park over the next few days, there’s an obvious explanation. It was from said vantage point 30 years ago that another Newcastle manager, Kevin Keegan, had to explain to angry and bewildered fans why they had sold Andy Cole to Manchester United. The modern-day version, of course, is Howe having to talk his way out of why the club could be letting Alexander Isak go to Liverpool.
To be honest, it doesn’t seem a very Howe thing to do, although rumours suggest the current Magpies manager wouldn’t be averse. And, if Howe knows his history, he might benefit, just as Liverpool once did, from the Coutinho effect – flogging a player at peak value and rebuilding key parts of the squad with the hefty proceeds.
Isak going to Liverpool (anything from £125m to £150m appear to be the latest quotes) would spark a different sort of effect, one involving dominoes. So if the Swedish striker topples towards Anfield, what other currently static deals might fall into place as the chain reaction spreads?
Let’s start with Newcastle. If Isak does move on, several sources are suggesting Leipzig’s 22-year-old forward Benjamin Sesko is top of Howe’s wishlist. He’d cost £70m and upwards. The Slovenian’s Leipzig teammate Loïs Openda has also been linked, while it seems pretty obvious that Brentford will want way more than the £25m that Newcastle are believed to have offered for their frontman Yoane Wissa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo international is 28 so another, more youthful, option for Howe could be the prolific Porto striker Samu Aghehowa (Howe and Aghehowa has nice symmetry; the equivalent of Pep Guardiola signing Josko Gvardiol, maybe). Aghehowa is just 21, although he has a reported release clause of €100m (£87m).
Liverpool’s financial house seems to be in excellent order so it appears there’s no desperate sell-to-buy necessity when it comes to Isak. That said, the astute bean counters at Anfield know that funds could be raised. A chunk could come from Harvey Elliott, who is reported to be on West Ham’s radar. He struggled to get minutes under Arne Slot last season, although Elliott has stressed he would love to develop his career at Liverpool. The last reported rumour of Darwin Núñez leaving was in mid-July after Napoli apparently said no, but the Luis Díaz speculation won’t go away and Bayern Munich’s £70m bid for the Colombian could get the green light if Isak is brought in.
Arsenal rumours, now, and maybe turn away if you’re a Newcastle fan already resigned to losing Isak. The Gunners want an elite left-sided attacker and Newcastle wideman Anthony Gordon is on a select list of three. Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo (another supposed Liverpool target) are the others. Gordon would cost about £80m.
Aston Villa seem keen to rebuff Manchester United’s approach for striker Ollie Watkins but want to take Alejandro Garnacho away from Old Trafford. United want to sell but only at the right price. They also want rid of Antony, a flop at United but a hit at Real Betis. The Spaniards can’t afford turning their loan deal into a permanent one, so several teams in Europe are keeping a close eye on the Brazlian winger. The very latest? Two Saudi Arabian Pro League sides are ready to swoop.
Chelsea have dominated transfer land in recent times but there’s not too much happening down at the Bridge right now. João Pedro and Liam Delap have beefed up the attack and there’s no great desire to sell Nicolas Jackson: Manchester United are sniffing.
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But the Blues, despite being stacked in that department, can’t help themselves when it comes to a creative No 10 type. The Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons is the main target, while they still have eyes for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
