Alexander Isak has confirmed his desire to leave Newcastle, and Eddie Howe has been told that Manchester United target Benjamin Sesko wouldn't be able to replace the Swede on his own
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (C) smiles with Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United after the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium on May 21, 2008 in Moscow, Russia.
Sir Alex Ferguson watched Ronaldo leave United for Real Madrid(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Sir Alex Ferguson's private thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid may be similar to the situation Newcastle United could face if Alexander Isak decides to leave.
Since his £60million transfer from Real Sociedad to the Magpies in 2023, the Swedish forward has quickly become a Premier League favourite. The 25-year-old has notched up an impressive tally of 62 goals and 11 assists in 109 appearances.
He played a pivotal role in the club's fifth-place finish last season and their Carabao Cup victory, where he scored the winning goal in the 2-1 triumph over Premier League champions Liverpool in the final.
However, Isak's future at Newcastle is uncertain after he expressed a desire to consider opportunities elsewhere this summer. Former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew explained to talkSPORT listeners that Ferguson found himself in a similar situation to Eddie Howe with Isak.
In the summer of 2009, Manchester United legend Ronaldo departed from the club for Real Madrid, leaving Ferguson without the chance to secure a direct replacement for one of the game's finest talents.
Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo (R) is pictured with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson during a training session at the Carrington training complex, in Manchester, north west England, on May 20, 2009, in preparation for next weeks UEFA Champions league final against Barcelona in Rome.
Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo (R) is pictured with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson during a training session at the Carrington training complex, in Manchester, north west England, on May 20, 2009, in preparation for next weeks UEFA Champions league final against Barcelona in Rome.
Pardew said: "I remember Alex Ferguson talking about Ronaldo. It was a game just before he was about to leave. I said, 'How are you going to replace him?' He said, 'Well, I'm not going to be able to replace him. There's no one who can do the numbers, right?'
"And Isak would be exactly the same. He's not going to get anyone who can do those numbers that Isak can do. So, you're going to have to spread it around and buy two players. That's what Fergie did.
"I think he said, 'I'm going to buy two or three to try and replicate what he does within the team unit.' And that's what Eddie is going to have to do."
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, who is also a prime target of United's, has been identified as Newcastle's first-choice replacement for Isak. However, Pardew clearly thinks the 22-year-old would not be able to directly replace Isak, who netted 27 times last season, six more goals than Sesko managed despite playing three more games than the Swede.
Describing the challenges Howe is facing, he added: "These are the tests you get as a Premier League manager, whether you're at the top of the league, in the middle or at the bottom. You're going to get tests and Eddie's getting tested here by one of his main players."
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United attends the training session within the preparations for the new season in Seefeld village of Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria on July 14, 2025.
Alexander Isak is considering leaving Newcastle this summer
Ferguson's belief that finding a direct successor for Ronaldo would prove impossible was swiftly validated.
Whilst the now 83-year-old would have harboured considerable expectations for Michael Owen, Gabriel Obertan and Mame Diouf, they failed to match Ronaldo's contribution to the first team. To give some context, Diouf only spent three years at United, making a mere nine appearances for the first team before being transferred to Hanover 96.
Obertan, on the other hand, played 27 times before moving to Newcastle in 2011. Owen scored 17 goals in 52 appearances prior to joining Stoke City in 2012.
Newcastle's summer transfer window has been somewhat underwhelming so far, with ex-United star Anthony Elanga's £55m move from Nottingham Forest standing as the club's headline signing.
Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig looks on during the 1. Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart at Red Bull arena, Leipzig, Germany on May 17, 2025.
Benjamin Sesko has become a serious target for both Newcastle and Manchester United
Despite their efforts, the Magpies have missed out on several targets, including James Trafford, Bryan Mbeumo and Hugo Ekitike, who have joined Manchester City, United and Liverpool respectively.
On the other hand, United have continued to make some big moves this summer, signing the likes of Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon. Ruben Amorim could still sign another of Newcastle's targets under their noses with Sesko still being heavily linked to both clubs.
The United boss wants to sign another forward and has Sesko and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins on his wishlist.