Liverpool and Newcastle remain locked in a battle for Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, with the latter now having reportedly made his preference clear between the two clubs

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's Sweden international is the complete centre-forward and would make a fine squad even more formidable