Newcastle United plan to offer Alexander Isak the club’s No. 9 shirt as a gesture of commitment amid growing interest from Liverpool and unresolved contract talks, according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail.
“Yes, the club will offer him the chance to take the No. 9 jersey vacated by Callum Wilson,” Hope reported. “However, there is no guarantee he will take it. Isak is a laidback character who does not place great stock on such things.”
The shirt holds deep symbolism at St James’ Park, and Newcastle are “very keen” for Isak to inherit the iconic number as he leads the team into a brighter future and the Magpies return to the Champions League after a one-year hiatus.
The move is one part of a broader plan to retain the 25-year-old striker, who has emerged as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards. Despite his importance, contract talks have stalled.
“There were preliminary contract talks in the spring of 2024,” Hope wrote. “However, when there was a change in structure and personnel... those talks were shelved.”
Sporting director Paul Mitchell believed Isak’s current deal, which runs until 2028, was sufficient, but that position didn’t fully consider the player’s expectations.
“Isak thought he was due a new contract and has spent the past 12 months on the same money as before,” Hope reported. “Well paid? Yes. Below what he could earn elsewhere? Yes, absolutely.”
Liverpool’s interest is “real,” Hope confirmed, but a deal would require an offer exceeding £150 million, which may only materialize next summer.
Newcastle insist Isak is “NOT for sale,” in Hope's words, but the insider cautioned that a long-term commitment without a release clause is unlikely.
“I don’t think that is going to happen,” Hope stated.