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Eddie Howe might be left pondering what could have been, having backed Hugo Ekitike to make a significant impact in the Premier League. Newcastle United saw their $95 million offer rebuffed by Eintracht Frankfurt before Liverpool swooped in for the Frenchman in a deal potentially worth up to $107M.
The 23-year-old is just one of several strikers that Newcastle has missed out on this summer, with their unsuccessful attempts to sign new forwards also impacting the future of their unsettled star, Alexander Isak. Newcastle had initially planned to pair Ekitike with Isak, but now face the possibility of being left without either forward as Liverpool also keep tabs on the Swedish player.
Isak made headlines earlier this week when he announced on Instagram, just moments after being named in the PFA's Team of the Year for last season, that his time with the Magpies was over, blaming unfulfilled promises behind the scenes.
This was followed by a statement from Newcastle later that evening expressing disappointment in his actions and suggesting he would likely remain at St James' Park.
Liverpool had a $150M bid turned down by the Magpies earlier this month and are believed to be prepared to come back to the negotiating table if they receive any indication from the North East that a deal could be on the cards. While disgruntled Newcastle fans have recently suggested that the Reds might have already signed Isak had they not moved for Magpies target Ekitike, Liverpool did not actually swoop in to steal the forward's signature.
It's understood that the Reds initially made advances over Ekitike back in January as Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes began to gently plan how their forward line might look for the campaign ahead. The Dutchman spoke to the Frenchman at the end of last season and sold him the vision for how he would fit in when leading the Liverpool line.
Already equipped with all the data, scouting reports and character references needed to pursue the deal, the Reds were then able to act swiftly to conclude a deal after Newcastle's own initial bid was rejected.
Liverpool's readiness to be proactive earlier in the calendar year ultimately allowed them to gain the necessary information to proceed when it was agreed that Ekitike was the right player for the next stage of their evolution up front.
As a result, Newcastle will now be left trying to keep the Frenchman quiet when the Reds travel to St. James' Park on Monday night. Ekitike has enjoyed a strong start to his Liverpool career, following up a debut goal in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace with a goal and assist on his Premier League and Anfield debut against AFC Bournemouth.
And Howe has expressed his admiration for the Reds forward after missing out on his signature. "There's no doubting that I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years," he admitted at his pre-match press conference. "He's someone that we have tracked for a long time.
"He's got really good qualities and I think he showed that in his first Premier League game, a very good debut against Bournemouth.
"He's got really good movement, he's intelligent, he's good in the air, he scores goals, a very good finisher, scores off both feet. I think he has a load of qualities that will serve him really well in the Premier League.
"Our job will be to keep him quiet and to try and control him, but certainly he is going to be a threat this year."
With Isak inevitably becoming the main talking point during Howe's press conference before Liverpool's visit, the Reds' journey to Newcastle will serve as another painful reminder of the messy transfer saga on Monday evening.
However, despite confirmation that the Swedish striker won't feature against Liverpool, Ekitike's expected role in attack for the Reds will only add insult to injury for the Magpies.
Just six weeks earlier, Newcastle's hierarchy were still fantasising about pairing Isak and Ekitike together in their forward line.
With barely more than a week remaining before the transfer window shuts, the duo might yet become teammates - though at Anfield rather than St. James' Park.
Sadly for Howe and his squad, such aspirations have been well and truly dashed.
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