Newcastle United Eddie Howe press conference review: Pre Brentford
Newcastle United transfers: One of Alexander Isak’s St James’ Park allies could soon be following him out of the door.
Newcastle United made Alexander Isak the most expensive Premier League player and the most expensive Swedish player in history when they agreed to sell the striker to Liverpool on transfer deadline day for £130million.
Now another Swedish player is generating interest ahead of the January transfer window, though he would likely be significantly cheaper.
Newcastle defender Emil Krafth agreed a one-year contract extension last season, which runs until the end of the current 2025/26 campaign. As things stand, the 31-year-old is set to be a free agent at the end of the season unless Newcastle agree a new deal.
A matter of days after Isak left Newcastle for a club-record transfer, Krafth joined up with him on international duty with Sweden during the September international break. But the Newcastle defender has missed out on the upcoming Sweden squad for November’s World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Slovenia.
While Krafth has proven a dependable and versatile member of Eddie Howe’s squad over the past four years, he has been used primarily as a rotation option with limited Premier League starts to his name in recent seasons. The Swede’s only Premier League start so far in 2025 came last weekend against West Ham United as he was withdrawn at half-time in a 3-1 defeat.
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Champions League club interested in Emil Krafth
Champions League regulars and Danish Superliga champions FC Copenhagen are reportedly interested in striking a cut-price deal with Newcastle to sign Krafth in January. Given his contract is set to expire in June 2026, Newcastle could be tempted to cash in on a player they would otherwise lose for nothing in the summer.
For Krafth, a return to a Scandinavian country and the likelihood of regular first-team football could tempt him. But the player himself is settled in the city with his young family, having joined Newcastle from Amiens in 2019 for £5million.
Given Newcastle’s injury issues at full-back this season and the limited financial benefits of agreeing a sale in January, Howe would ideally look to keep the player on Tyneside.
Not the first time Emil Krafth has been subject to transfer interest at NUFC
Krafth was subject to transfer interest from Sweden in January 2024 as Malmö made an approach with the player set to be out of contract the following summer.
“Yes, [Malmo] checked with my agent," Krafth revealed after signing a short-term extension shortly after the interest. "I don’t think it was more than that. They were a bit optimistic.
"I feel that I have a few years left abroad before that question should be addressed. But I feel that I’m not done abroad."
Emil Krafth at ‘home’ in Newcastle
"It feels like home here for both me and my family, having been here for such a long time. We all enjoy everything about being part of this club and I love playing for Newcastle United."
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