· 2 June 2025, 12:00
**Newcastle United fans have endured a year of speculation linking Alexander Isak to a "bigger" club, all the while journalists seem to be forgetting that Newcastle are no longer the minnows we're portrayed as.**
Yes, we're the lowest-ranked team in the Champions League due to our coefficient, but that's a historical calculation based on when we were pure garbage. We've come a long way in a short time, and we're no longer a stepping-stone club. If we sign a top-quality player, it's because they want to be here, not because they want a foot in the door into the Premier League.
That's a fact that has been overlooked or even deliberately ignored to push an agenda, namely linking our big players with moves to one of the cartel clubs.
However, it seems as though the tide may be turning as even Sky Sports News are coming around to the idea that Newcastle can and likely will keep hold of Alexander Isak this summer.
> [](https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1929260679090807185)
Mark McAdam doesn't believe Alexander Isak will leave Newcastle this summer
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Mark McAdam who [enraged Newcastle fans earlier this season](https://nufcfeed.com/luke-edwards-becomes-newcastle-united-fans-mouthpiece-on-x-as-sky-sports-pedal-more-alexander-isak-to-arsenal-nonsense-1089468) with a comment about Isak joining Arsenal when discussing goal in a game that had nothing to do with Arsenal at all, makes a point about Isak being world-class, but he refuses to close the door on a potential move whereas Kaveh Solhekol tries to slam that door shut.
> "Let's be honest, he's top class, he's world-class. He's so good, and he's got better and better with every season he's been at Newcastle United. Is he going to walk away from a Champions League side that's exciting to be in? Probably not. Is someone going to be able to pay the money that Newcastle United would want? Probably not.
>
> "Anything is possible in the transfer window, we know that, and things can change with one phone call, but I would be surprised at this stage if he were to depart Newcastle."
Mark McAdam tries to open the door again with talk of PSR
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Kaveh then chimed in, shutting that door that Mark left open with his 'probably not' statements.
> "Can I say one thing? He's got three years left on his contract, he's at a club that is in the Champions League. One thing we haven't mentioned is who Newcastle United are owned by. They are 80% owned by the Saudi Arabian Sovereign Wealth Fund, so they have absolutely no reason whatsoever to sell him.
>
> "We say every player has his price, but if you're 80% owned by PIF of Saudi Arabia, then you wouldn't really have a price, and I can't imagine somebody sitting down and trying to negotiate with them if they don't want to sell. And they don't want to sell."
Mark McAdam brought up PSR as a caveat to Kaveh's point, and it is absolutely right that PSR could force us to have to sell players we don't want to again, but that, to us, is just highlighting exactly what Profit and Sustainability Rules are not fit for purpose.
What Kaveh said is absolutely spot on. If PIF don't want to sell, then they shouldn't have to; they can afford to have 11 Alexander Isak-level players on disgusting wages and never worry about finances, but PSR, which was supposed to stop clubs overspending themselves into trouble, makes no allowances for clubs who _can_ afford to spend.