Player push sparks £150M transfer dilemma for Newcastle Utd
Newcastle United’s summer strategy faces a significant test amid growing uncertainty surrounding their star forward, who has made clear his desire to explore options elsewhere.
The player in question has not travelled with the squad for their pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea, officially due to a minor thigh complaint. However, senior figures at Newcastle are aware of his inclination to consider a move in the current transfer window.
With three years remaining on his existing contract, the club is under no immediate pressure to sell. Talks had been expected this summer over a potential new deal, with Chief Executive Darren Eales indicating earlier in the year that negotiations would be addressed once the season concluded. At present, those discussions have not materialised.
Despite the player’s current stance, Newcastle’s preference is to retain him and reopen talks on an extension. If needed, a transfer could be revisited in 2026.
Liverpool interest adds weight to potential £150M record deal
Interest from Liverpool has intensified in recent weeks, with the Premier League giants exploring the possibility of submitting a British record bid, understood to be in the region of £150M.
Such a figure would surpass the £116M Liverpool recently paid for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, underlining their ambition in the transfer market under new manager Arne Slot.
While Newcastle are reluctant to lose their leading scorer, they recognise that any bid close to £150M — combined with the player’s own willingness to move — could compel them to enter negotiations.
Howe’s plans unsettled as forward stays behind
Eddie Howe’s preparations have been disrupted by the ongoing uncertainty. The forward did not feature in Newcastle’s recent 4-0 defeat against Celtic and was granted leave to return home. Officially, this was attributed to managing his recovery, but sources suggest the decision also took into account the speculation surrounding his future.
Howe indicated post-match that he expected the player to rejoin the group during the Asia tour. However, that now appears unlikely as the situation remains unresolved.
The forward has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for the club and has become a pivotal figure under Howe, whose coaching has elevated him to among the most in-demand attacking players in Europe.
Contract strength may yet shift Newcastle’s stance
While Newcastle remain firm in their stance to retain the forward, their contractual position gives them leverage. They are not under financial pressure to sell, and any transfer would have to be on their terms — both in valuation and timing.
Should a suitable offer materialise and the player continue to push for a move, the situation could develop rapidly in the final weeks of the window. For now, Newcastle remain calm but are aware that circumstances may force a decision sooner than they’d prefer.
