Liverpool are said to have reacted to Newcastle shutting the door on Isak talks by launching a bid for Ekitike, and Fabrizio Romano reports on Thursday morning that they are now ahead of the Magpies in the race to sign the French forward. The Reds expect to sign Ekitike if all hopes of an Isak deal end.

Newcastle have been in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt to sign Ekitike for a few days now, and they are really keen to land him. Liverpool, who made an approach for Alexander Isak, have also contacted the German club to be informed of the Ekitike situation.