Alexander Isak’s Reaction to Liverpool Beating Him to Hugo Ekitike Revealed
Alexander Isak’s response to Liverpool signing Hugo Ekitike ahead of him has now surfaced, shedding light on one of the biggest stories of the summer window.
Heading into the market, Liverpool made no secret of their desire to bring in a striker. Their first enquiry for Newcastle United forward Isak was turned down, leading them to accelerate talks for Ekitike. In July, the Reds sealed a £69 million move for the Frenchman — a deal that sparked questions over whether their pursuit of Isak had ended.
At the time, Isak was still in Austria with Newcastle for preseason, but once Ekitike’s transfer was announced, his demeanor noticeably shifted. According to The Athletic, he sat out the friendly against Celtic with what the club described as a “minor injury” and later declined to join the squad on their Asian tour, with Newcastle continuing to insist he was nursing a thigh issue.
The situation finally reached its conclusion on deadline day, as Liverpool smashed the British transfer record once again by completing a £125m deal for Isak, with performance-related add-ons potentially pushing the total to £130m. The Swede penned a six-year contract and has inherited the club’s iconic No. 9 shirt.
How Will Isak and Ekitike Fit Together?
Ekitike wasted no time settling in at Anfield, scoring four minutes into the Community Shield before adding goals against Bournemouth and Newcastle. His form earned him an August Player of the Month nomination alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, raising the question of how Arne Slot will manage both of his new forwards.
Despite Ekitike’s electric start, Isak is expected to spearhead the attack once fully fit. The 24-year-old hit 23 Premier League goals last season — second only to Mohamed Salah, whose influence remains undiminished despite a slow start to this campaign.
Cody Gakpo has also impressed, but he appears the most vulnerable to rotation if Slot opts to start both Isak and Ekitike. With Liverpool likely to surpass 60 matches across all competitions this season, depth in attack may prove to be a blessing rather than a problem.
Slot faces tactical dilemmas, but they are the kind managers relish: fitting two high-level strikers into a system designed to chase silverware on every front.
