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Newcastle United can shut down Alexander Isak transfer talk in one fell swoop

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak

Here we go again. The Premier League fixtures for next season have only just landed but once more we're seeing one of Newcastle United's top talents linked with a move to Liverpool.

Having had to put with Arsenal's seemingly endless bid to lure the Swede to North London in January, we're now told Arne Slot would love to add United's goal talisman to his Anfield squad this summer. I bet he would.

Liverpool have huge transfer ambitions this summer, having already signed Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili and with a mammoth £100m+ deal for Florian Wirtz set to go through this week. Milos Kerkez is expected to sign from Bournemouth for around £40m as Slot strengthens his squad to defend the Premier League title next term.

Isak is said to be his dream centre-forward but Newcastle have so far put any suitors off by demanding a huge transfer figure for the 25-year-old.

No figure has ever officially been put on Isak's head, but United were said to want at least £120m for the striker who hit 23 Premier League goals last season - and you could argue that if Wirtz is worth in excess of £100m then Isak's price will only have gone up.

Newcastle don't want to sell, of course. Their intention is to continue to build a side to match his abilities and turn top-four challenges into title bids, become regular Champions League campaigners and make sure there's not another 70-year wait for a domestic trophy.

Isak's representatives and United are due to hold talks over a new contract this summer with both parties said to be relaxed over his future on Tyneside, but there should be no doubt that the club have to match his ambitions to ensure he remains a Newcastle player.

There will be no clearer statement of their intent than making two or three marquee signings in the coming weeks.

It's easier said than done, of course, but Isak will have seen Liverpool, Manchester City - even Man United - strengthen considerably already.

I've no doubt he and his agents will be told of the big ambitions United unquestionably have when it comes to those contract negotiations, but actions will always speak louder than words.

Until Newcastle back up their rhetoric with signings, then we may have to live in fear of heads being turned. And like it or not, the same will apply to Tonali, Bruno, Gordon . . .

It may not feel like it, but we're still in the early stages of the transfer window. There is plenty of time for Newcastle to pull off some shrewd transfer business, and history suggests that when the funds are available, as we're told they are now, they make top signings. Isak himself is evidence of that.

Eddie Howe and his coaching staff are doing their bit, taking the talent available to them and crafting a side capable of taking on the very best.

Now the head coach, and those players who delivered a trophy and Champions League football, deserve to backed by new blood swelling an already talented squad.

Failure to do so will only weaken their hand when it comes to keeping the big names on Tyneside.

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