Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer has launched a scathing critique of Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike, branding the forward's career decisions as 'really strange'. The comments come amidst a backdrop of intense transfer speculation linking Liverpool with a sensational move for Newcastle's own star man, Alexander Isak.
Shearer, the Magpies' all-time record goalscorer, expressed his bewilderment at Ekitike's path since turning down a move to St James' Park two years ago. The young Frenchman's career has stagnated in the French capital, a far cry from the trajectory he might have had on Tyneside.
Shearer's Blunt Assessment
'It’s a really strange one,' Shearer stated on The Rest Is Football podcast. 'Newcastle wanted to sign him, and it was all agreed, but he decided to go to PSG instead. Since that move, he’s barely kicked a ball. It’s a very odd decision from the player and his advisors.'
Ekitike's proposed £25m switch to Newcastle collapsed at the eleventh hour, with the player opting for a loan move to PSG, which was later made permanent for £28m. However, he has managed a paltry return of just four goals and four assists in 37 appearances, spending the recent season on an underwhelming loan at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Liverpool's Isak Interest Heats Up
In a tantalising twist for the St James' Park faithful, the news coincides with reports that new Liverpool boss Arne Slot has identified Alexander Isak as his primary transfer target. The Swedish international has been a revelation since his club-record £63m move from Real Sociedad, emerging as one of the Premier League's most lethal marksmen.
Any approach from the Merseyside giants is expected to be met with fierce resistance from the Newcastle hierarchy. The club considers Isak utterly indispensable and is under no financial pressure to sell their prized asset, despite the need to navigate the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
The potential transfer saga sets the stage for a fascinating power play between two of English football's giants, with Newcastle determined to build a team around their prolific goalscorer.
