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 United have sent a clear message on Alexander Isak this week from their training camp in Austria - by simply getting on with business. On the eve of United's trip to Celtic, the Magpies issued fresh pictures of the Sweden international in training on the final day of their week-long stay in the Alps,