Alexander Isak of Newcastle United
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United
Newcastle United need not fear losing Alexander Isak in the summer transfer window now that they have qualified for the Champions League, says Magpies legend Alan Shearer.
The Swede again showed why he is one of the most coveted strikers in Europe by hitting 27 goals in 42 apperarances for Eddie Howe's side as they finished fifth in the Premier League table, and won the Carabao Cup.
Isak shone at Wembley in that win over Liverpool, but has had to endure a stream of transfer links, with the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona reportedly keen on United's star man.
However, he is now looking forward to another Champions League campaign in black-and-white, with Newcastle confident of being able to find agreement on a new contract in the coming weeks.
And Shearer, who hit a club record 206 goals in 10 seasons at his boyhood club, is confident the 25-year-old is going nowhere.
"They've got to keep him and they will, I’m pretty certain of that," Shearer told the The Rest is Football podcast. "Because of their success this year, because they’ve got Champions League football, all of those things.
"There’s not a worry in my mind that he’s going anywhere. He’ll be a Newcastle player next season because he’s a very, very, very good player.
"They want to go to the next level and remain where they are, which is in and around the top four or five all season and challenge for trophies. But to do that you have to keep going.
"They’ve got to get in, I think, two or three big hitters that are going to improve the first team. If they do that, they’re not that far away from challenging."
On United's transfer priorities, Shearer added: "Another forward. Depending on who they sell or keep, probably a right-sided midfielder, maybe another centre-half. If they can add that I really don’t think they’ll be far away."