Are Newcastle's Owners Helping Liverpool Buy Isak?

The Saudi Pro League is emerging arsenic a imaginable destination for Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez this summer.

BBC Sport understands that a imaginable move to nan Middle East for nan Uruguay world has been explored this summertime pinch intermediaries actively moving connected trying to agent a deal.

Al-Hilal, who are controlled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and coached by erstwhile Inter Milan leader Simone Inzaghi, are willing successful Nunez.

And offloading Nunez would financially assistance Liverpool's efforts to onshore striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle - different nine owned by PIF - this summer.

So, would PIF beryllium allowing 1 of their clubs to use astatine nan disbursal of different if Al-Hilal motion Nunez?

There is immoderate uncertainty complete whether Nunez, 26, is prepared to time off European shot astatine this shape successful his career.

Nunez has besides been a target for Italian champions Napoli this summertime while different European sides person besides shown an interest.

PIF owns 75% stakes successful 4 of nan starring Saudi Arabian clubs, including Al-Hilal, while it besides owns a 80% liking successful Newcastle.

The Magpies rejected a £110m bid from Liverpool for Isak connected Friday, pinch Newcastle valuing nan Sweden world astatine astir £150m.

"It makes maine deliberation astir what nan privilege is for PIF," Newcastle instrumentality writer Charlotte Robson told BBC Sport.

"More and much discontent has been felt successful nan fanbase lately complete wherever Newcastle beryllium connected PIF's database of priorities, and allowing different of their clubs to use astatine nan imaginable disbursal of america feels moreover much for illustration we are being overlooked.

"Perhaps it's their clever measurement of getting money into NUFC, but I deliberation astir fans would opportunity we'd alternatively an improved statement was fixed to Isak, nan particulate of nan summertime settles, and he stays pinch america a small while longer."

However, shot finance master Kieran Maguire says Liverpool tin spend to bargain Isak sloppy of whether Nunez stays aliases leaves.

"Although they've been very progressive successful nan transportation window, if they really wanted to, they could person spent different £200-250m, and still would person been wrong nan PSR [profit and sustainability rules] limits," he told BBC Sport.

Liverpool person signed Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Armin Pecsi for a mixed full of astir £265m without add-ons.

However, nan departures of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher and Trent Alexander-Arnold person recouped an first £115m.

Maguire added: "I deliberation group are joining nan dots and possibly making 2 positive 2 equals 5 successful position of, is this a 'you scratching my back? I'll scratch yours' type of situation. But successful my view, there's insufficient grounds to backmost that up.

"I fishy that Liverpool are apt to beryllium nan biggest beneficiary of this, alternatively than a PIF club. Newcastle don't want to waste Isak.

"As acold arsenic Al Hilal are concerned, location are plentifulness of strikers that they could person bought. It conscionable truthful happens that Nunez is efficaciously available, and truthful they decided to prosecute that arsenic an option."

Isak joined Newcastle successful a £60m move from La Liga broadside Real Sociedad successful 2022.

He was nan club's apical scorer past play arsenic they won nan Carabao Cup, ending their 70-year hold for home silverware.

The 25-year-old, who was reported arsenic wanting to research a move distant from Tyneside by BBC Sport successful July, was near retired of nan club's pre-season circuit of Asia pinch what nan nine called a "minor thigh injury".

Last week, nan Sweden world trained unsocial astatine erstwhile nine Real Sociedad amid ongoing uncertainty astir his future, though sources opportunity he returned to Newcastle training connected Monday.

His leader Eddie Howe said Isak must "earn nan right" to train pinch his squad again and, speaking to nan Newcastle Chronicle, said he had not spoken to nan guardant since Liverpool lodged a bid.

The Newcastle boss, speaking earlier he travelled backmost location pinch his squad from South Korea, added that Liverpool, arsenic acold arsenic he was aware, had not been backmost successful touch since making their offer.