The £30million reason Alexander Isak is likely to remain at Newcastle United next year
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Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's second goal as Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks dejected during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United
Alexander Isak is likely to remain at Newcastle United next year.(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Liverpool's pursuit of Alexander Isak is more complicated than first thought with Newcastle likely to deem the player priceless given the inner workings of his transfer from Real Sociedad.
The Swedish striker is enjoying his best season yet in England with 17 Premier League goals as well as a deft finish to help Newcastle lift the Carabao Cup against the Reds in the Wembley final last month.
But, despite his impressive campaign, rumours of clubs prying the 25-year-old away from St James Park have persisted with Liverpool and Arsenal considered the frontrunners if he is to stay in England. A transfer fee well north of £100million is expected to be needed if Newcastle are to consider selling Isak but there are strong indicators he will prolong his time on Tyneside.
Ant and Dec on the Newcastle trophy bus with Alexander Isak
Ant and Dec on the Newcastle trophy bus with Alexander Isak
Isak moved to Newcastle from Sociedad for a club record £63million in 2022 and it is understood the Tyneside club still has a bill of £30million amortisation costs left to pay off.
This, coupled with the fact the Spanish side negotiated a sell-on clause in the deal, makes the task of Arne Slot adding one of the league's best forwards to his ranks a near impossible challenge.
It is also no secret that the Saudi-owned outfit are not short of cash themselves and have plenty of other talent they could offload to meet PSR demands, should they need to.
The Carabao Cup winners also remain firmly in the hunt for a Champions League spot to further solidify their accounts, currently two points behind Chelsea in fourth and a single point behind Manchester City in fifth which would likely secure a UCL place this season.
Liverpool have been linked with several strikers with reports that Slot may look to offload Darwin Nunez in the summer and the ever-present pressure for Mohamed Salah to join the Saudi Pro League for free.
The whispers of Isak arriving at Anfield will probably continue throughout the upcoming transfer window but, unless there is a change in thinking between either the player or club, the Swedish talisman will stay at St James for another year.