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David Ornstein has played down Liverpool’s chances of prizing Alexander Isak away from Newcastle United this summer.
Newcastle have been consistent in their stance that Isak is not for sale. That was the message relayed by chief executive Darren Eales in March while chairman and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan is said to have privately told the club’s hierarchy to reject any potential offers.
Still, that has done little to quieten the noise, at least from a national media perspective. The Sweden international has been relentless linked with Premier League champions Liverpool, with prominent Scousers on social media talking up the prospect of a deal happening.
David Ornstein reaffirms Newcastle United’s stance on Alexander Isak
Isak has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for United since joining from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63million in August 2022, a strike conversion that ranks him among Europe’s best.
Interest from other clubs is natural but Newcastle are in a strong position. The 25-year-old still has three years left on his contract, with talks over an extension expected to take place this summer. Meanwhile, the Magpies have just ended their 70-year domestic trophy drought - with Isak scoring in the Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool - and qualified for the Champions League.
Reiterating Newcastle’s stance on Isak amidst all the noise, transfer expert Ornstein told The Athletic: “Newcastle have no intention of selling him whatsoever. Their plan is to keep him, they would like to renew his contract. There's no sign of a renewal coming at this point, but they're in a strong position. They've got three years left on his terms, he's already being paid extremely well and I'm sure they would be prepared to take that higher.
“He's at the centre of this project that's Saudi-led and very ambitious. They'll be heading back into the Champions League next season, which gives him football at the top tier of European competition. And this season just gone, they've qualified for that competition and also won a trophy for the first time in a long time and he was so crucial to that.
“He does look to be happy. We never know what happens behind the scenes, I don't know, but all we do know is what we see and he's always got a smile on his face and he's always excelling when he's fit.”
The only way Alexander Isak could leave Newcastle United this summer
“Eye-watering” money and encouragement from either Newcastle or Isak’s representatives are the only way, all of which are unlikely, Isak could depart this summer, according to Ornstein.
“If they were to be enticed into trading, the money would be huge,” Ornstein continued. “We've always heard around £150million. We don't know that for certain. Maybe it's more, maybe it's less, but it would be eye-watering money, no doubt. And why not in the position that Newcastle are? And that's really even to just sort of get a conversation.
“Now, we don't know what his representatives are doing. Maybe they're entertaining possibilities. Maybe they're hearing from interested parties. We know about the admiration that has been longstanding from Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. We know that Liverpool have admiration for him, absolutely, and I'm sure others on their list as well. But there's no suggestion of any developments, so we can't play it up further than that. There have been rumours and reports regularly.
“I think it would take some encouragement from Newcastle, from the representatives, from both, for clubs to really test the water and the resolve of Newcastle. And if that encouragement comes, you can imagine Liverpool trying. It doesn't mean they'll succeed. But they've got a lot of work to do at their own place to facilitate a spend of that level.
“I would be shocked if any club was able to do that in terms of his suitors, like an Arsenal, a Liverpool and so on, without shipping some players out to create the financial space, not just on the transfer fee but also the salary.”