Alexander Isak, the Newcastle United striker, could be available for less than £100 million this summer, according to rumors from Spain.
According to Sport, Newcastle has a’verbal understanding’ with Isak that would allow him to depart for as cheap as £83.3 million (€100 million). The news comes shortly after Barcelona was connected with the Swedish striker, who has 54 goals in 97 games for Newcastle since joining from Real Sociedad for a club record £63 million in 2022.
But the message from sources at Newcastle is completely different. Isak is under contract at Newcastle until 2028 and with no release clause, The Magpies are in a good negotiating position should any team come in for him this summer. Qualifying for the Champions League would strengthen their position even further; a new contract has also been proposed.
Arsenal and Liverpool have been prominently linked with an interest, but it is understood that Newcastle would have to pay a Premier League record transfer cost to consider any potential move. When Chelsea asked about Isak’s availability last summer, the club responded with a stern ‘not-for-sale’ position.
Newcastle United ‘can’t lose’ Alexander Isak
Newcastle’s senior executives, including head coach Eddie Howe, have no intention of selling Isak this summer.
Howe recently spoke on Isak’s future: “We have to attempt to keep our top players. I believe that is critical to both our short-term and long-term success, so as the football club’s manager, I would argue that we need to maintain the group together while also adding the other way.
“We haven’t added [to the first team] in a long time during several transfer windows, for reasons we’ve all addressed. But we need to move the squad ahead, and we cannot afford to lose our finest players.”
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak’s new contract
While Isak is under contract with Newcastle until June 2028, there has been discussion of a new agreement for the 25-year-old at St James’ Park. Any new agreement, however, is likely to be reached after the 2024-25 campaign concludes.
A new agreement might complicate matters if Isak’s representation want to include a release provision in the striker’s contract. Last season, Bruno Guimaraes agreed to a new contract that includes a £100 million release clause that could only be exercised in June.
The release clause was not triggered, but it did cast doubt on the Brazilian’s future for a short time.
“The contract, I’m sure when the time comes, that will be discussed by Alex’s representatives and the football club,” remarked Howe prior to this.
“He’s motivated and wants to succeed; he has big career goals, and he’s still young, so he should have a very bright future ahead of him.” I know he has a strong drive to score goals.
“I’ve had nothing but great conversations with him about Newcastle and his future. I’d love for him and our other players to be the ones who help us win a trophy. That’s the goal.
Newcastle have a vital run of games coming up, with Nottingham Forest visiting St James’ Park on Sunday (2pm kickoff). Isak has scored in all three Premier League games versus Forest, including a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory at the City Ground in November.
Following that, Newcastle will face Liverpool at Anfield in what appears to be a Premier League dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on March 16.
