Newcastle United are facing the tough task of keeping Alexander Isak at the club this summer after reports Liverpool are ready to place a £120m bid for him.
After almost three years on Tyneside, the 25-year-old has proven that he can perform in crucial games and deserves to play Champions League football every year.
Newcastle United think they can deliver that for Alexander Isak, but they are now under pressure to give him a new contract after reports that Liverpool are preparing a bid for him.
Isak wanted Champions League football next season, and he is getting that at Newcastle. However, he could be sold to the Magpies’ Premier League rivals if the price is right. Initial reports have stated that Liverpool think they can sign Isak for around £120m, but Newcastle are adamant that he is not for sale this summer.
Despite that, the feeling is that Newcastle could be tempted to sell Isak for around £150m, a fee that would smash the existing British transfer record recently set by Liverpool when they agreed a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
Reds boss Arne Slot wants a new striker to partner Mohamed Salah next season; his comments earlier this year reflect how eager he is to sign him.
Arne Slot during a Premier League game between Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Arne Slot is a big admirer of Alexander Isak amid £120m transfer links
Slot has been very complimentary of Newcastle and their players in the past. After Liverpool’s defeat in the Carabao Cup final, Slot praised Dan Burn for his goal at Wembley, admitting he had never seen anything like it before.
The Dutchman also managed Yankuba Minteh at Feyenoord during the 2023/24 campaign while he was on loan from Newcastle.
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With Liverpool very ready to move for Isak, it feels like Slot had it in the pipeline all along after what he said about him before Newcastle’s visit to Anfield in February.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Slot said: “It’s an understatement to say he is in fine form, I think he is in excellent form.
“Also over there it’s the team performance that will help us control him, so the more ball possession we have the easier it is to control him – although he’s definitely a threat on the counter-attack as well.
“The good thing for us is we’ve got two centre-backs that are probably some of the best players who are able to play against him.
“I don’t say this with perfect English, but what I mean is that we’ve got two very, very, very good centre-backs and that’s definitely what you need if you face a striker with the quality of Alexander Isak.”
Slot’s admiration for Isak was even clearer before the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle. The Dutchman said: “Alexander Isak is such an important player for Newcastle, he poses an incredible threat to opponents. He has the same speed as, for example, the PSG forwards who played against us on Tuesday.”
Alexander Isak joining Liverpool will ruin Eddie Howe’s plans at Newcastle United
Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has told Newcastle not to sell Isak, as he is his favourite player. However, an offer of that magnitude could see the Magpies left with no choice but to let him go.
Additionally, Newcastle are in talks to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton, with a deal believed to be in the region of £60m.
Reports have stated that Eddie Howe wants Pedro to play alongside Isak next season to form an unstoppable attack. However, Liverpool are now prepared to rain on Howe’s parade and ruin his squad plans.
The transfer saga with Liverpool and Isak has just begun, but it does not look like it will conclude anytime soon. Newcastle know what Isak has and can do for the club going forward, and they must now do whatever they can to keep him.