The exact levels of Newcastle United’s ambition under owners PIF could be tested following a recent update regarding Alexander Isak and Liverpool.
Liverpool are ready to make a British transfer record bid for Isak, who still has three years to run on his contract at Newcastle United.
Newcastle do not have to sell Isak this summer, but the Reds are seemingly keen on at least testing their resolve.
Should the offer emerge, it’s likely to be the biggest test of the Newcastle United owners yet.
Alexander Isak gestures with his arms during Newcastle United's Premier League loss against Everton.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
PIF set for huge test as Liverpool prepare bid for Alexander Isak
PIF stressed they remain ambitious at Newcastle in the immediate wake of the failure to sign any players last summer.
While there has been little to suggest that’s changed in the months since, the potential saga over Isak’s future will prove it.
A British record sum would be incredibly difficult to turn down. While the club are in a strong financial position right now, PSR issues will still exist next year and the year after that.
It’d only be natural to consider taking so much money for one player, even if only briefly.
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is pictured at a golf event in Scotland.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
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Still, selling the Sweden international could be a disaster, at least in the immediate term. No matter how much they could get for him, actually going out and replacing him is another thing entirely.
There are few strikers as good as Isak. Arguably even fewer that the club could realistically afford given Newcastle’s wage structure.
If Liverpool really do come in with a huge offer, PIF’s decision will tell us so much about exactly where they want to go. Rebuffing a potential British record sum for Isak would be a genuine statement of intent.
Accepting it, meanwhile, may suggest the club are not willing nor capable of holding onto their best players.
What is the latest on Alexander Isak’s contract at Newcastle?
Isak is under contract at Newcastle until 2028, though the club want to reward him with a new deal.
Isak’s contract talks are a priority for Newcastle, while Geordie Boot Boys understands they are prepared to make him their highest-paid player.
In an ideal world, he’d sign an extension this summer and put all the speculation to rest. If that doesn’t happen, however, next summer will mean he’ll go into the final two years of his deal with no resolution found.
At that point, a decision would really have to be made. Risking him heading into the final year of his contract would surely see his value drop significantly.