Agent didn’t want ‘perfect’ star to join Liverpool this summer

The summer transfer window is often compared to a high-stakes chess match, where the biggest clubs strategically maneuver to secure the most valuable pieces.

This past window featured a fascinating and complex rivalry between Liverpool and Newcastle United, with several key battles playing out behind the scenes.

While the record-shattering £125 million move of Alexander Isak from Tyneside to Merseyside grabbed all the headlines, it was far from the only time these two clubs found themselves competing for the same signature.

Long before the Isak saga reached its dramatic conclusion on deadline day, Liverpool had already secured a significant victory over Newcastle for another highly-rated forward.

In July, the Reds completed a deal to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69 million, a move that flew somewhat under the radar but was deeply symbolic.

According to super-agent Ali Barat, who was intimately involved in the negotiations, this transfer was a classic case of a player’s head being turned by the allure of a giant club.

Barat revealed that he had spent ten days in Germany working diligently on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to finalize a deal that would bring Ekitike to Newcastle.

He stated that terms were agreed with both the German club and the player himself. However, at the eleventh hour, Liverpool expressed their interest.

For the 23-year-old Frenchman, described by pundit Owen Hargreaves as “the perfect centre-forward,” the opportunity to work under Arne Slot and play at Anfield was an offer he simply could not refuse.

The pain for Newcastle was compounded by the fact that Liverpool’s move for Ekitike was reportedly initiated only after their initial inquiry for Isak was rebuffed.

This pattern of Liverpool’s magnetic pull influencing a player’s decision repeated itself just weeks later. Newcastle also identified Italian defensive prodigy Giovanni Leoni as a key target for the future.

They presented a more financially advantageous offer to his club, Parma, than the one Liverpool eventually tabled. Yet, once again, the prestige of Liverpool proved decisive.

Parma’s chairman, Federico Cherubini, confirmed that while they had rejected Newcastle’s superior bid, the player’s explicit desire to join the Merseyside club made the decision for them.

“When the Reds came forward, our plans changed,” Cherubini explained, noting the offer was attractive and the player was “very happy to take advantage of this opportunity.”

These twin rejections highlight a recurring challenge for Newcastle. Despite their ambitious project, considerable financial backing, and return to the Champions League, they are still operating in a tier just below the established, historical giants of the game like Liverpool.

The allure of Anfield, the promise of working with a coach like Arne Slot, and the guarantee of competing for the biggest trophies remains a powerful trump card in negotiations.

For Liverpool, securing Ekitike and Leoni was a demonstration of their continued pulling power and strategic planning.

However, the window wasn’t without its own disappointments. The article hints at a £50 million target they missed out on who is now thriving, and a long-term plan to replace Mohamed Salah that could be complicated by external influence, namely Kylian Mbappe.

This serves as a reminder that even the most powerful clubs don’t win every battle in the complex, unpredictable world of football transfers. For now, though, Liverpool can reflect on a window where they successfully beat a direct rival to two promising signatures, strengthening their squad while simultaneously weakening a competitor’s plans.