Are Newcastle’s Owners Secretly Helping Liverpool Buy Isak? The Saudi Connection Behind a Shock Transfer Twist

In one of the most unexpected transfer twists of the summer, Liverpool’s pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak may be getting secret help from a surprising source: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)—the same entity that owns Newcastle United and Al-Hilal.

With the Saudi Pro League continuing its aggressive expansion into European football, a new development could reshape both the Premier League and global transfer market. BBC Sport recently revealed that Al-Hilal, one of Saudi Arabia’s richest clubs, are interested in signing Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez this summer. But this isn’t just about Darwin—it could open the financial floodgates for Liverpool to land their top target: Alexander Isak.

Let’s break it all down.

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🔁 The Darwin Núñez Exit Strategy

After a mixed 2023/24 season, Darwin Núñez’s future at Liverpool has come under scrutiny. Despite moments of brilliance, inconsistency in front of goal and poor form against top opposition have raised doubts about his long-term role under new manager Arne Slot.

Now, according to credible reports, intermediaries are actively working behind the scenes to broker a deal that would see the Uruguayan striker move to Al-Hilal—a club managed by former Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi. The club is controlled by the PIF, the powerful sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, which has been pouring billions into football in recent years.

With a fee likely to surpass £70 million, this sale could provide Liverpool with the financial muscle to chase a more consistent and versatile attacker.

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🔁 Enter: Alexander Isak

On top of Liverpool’s attacking wishlist sits Alexander Isak, the Swedish sensation who took the Premier League by storm at Newcastle last season. Tall, technical, and tactically intelligent, Isak is viewed by many as the ideal modern striker—a player who can finish clinically, drop deep, and combine with wide players like Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah.

However, Isak won’t come cheap. Newcastle value him at around £90-100 million, a fee that would normally be out of reach without significant sales.

That’s where the Saudi connection becomes fascinating.

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🧩 The Saudi Transfer Triangle

Let’s connect the dots:

Saudi Arabia’s PIF owns both Newcastle United and Al-Hilal.

If Al-Hilal buys Darwin Núñez, the money indirectly flows to Liverpool.

That same money could then be used by Liverpool to buy Alexander Isak—from Newcastle, also owned by PIF.

In essence, the PIF would be facilitating a closed-circle transfer triangle: one of its clubs buys a player from Liverpool, enabling Liverpool to buy another PIF-owned asset in return.

Is this legal? Yes. Is it ethical or within the spirit of fair play? That’s a much harder question—and one UEFA and FIFA are still struggling to regulate.

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🚨 What It Means for the Premier League

This deal would have major ripple effects across football:

Liverpool rebuilds its frontline with a striker more suited to Slot’s possession-based system.

Newcastle loses a star but could reinvest heavily thanks to Financial Fair Play (FFP) relief.

Al-Hilal adds a high-profile European talent as they continue their global brand expansion.

And most importantly, Saudi Arabia solidifies its role as not just a buying market—but a central influence in European football’s internal economy.

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⚽ Final Thoughts

The idea that Newcastle’s owners might indirectly help Liverpool fund a move for their own striker sounds absurd—but in the modern football economy, anything is possible.

With money, influence, and geopolitics all blending into the beautiful game, don’t be surprised if this three-way transfer shock becomes the headline deal of the 2025 summer window.

The big question now is: Will Darwin Núñez accept a move to Saudi Arabia—and will Liverpool push forward for Alexander Isak?

One thing’s for sure: This summer just got a whole lot more interesting.