What Is The Situation With Liverpool, Newcastle United And Alex Isak?

Newcastle United is braced for interest in star striker Alexander Isak this summer. While there is no appetite to see the Swede depart St James’ Park, and strong belief that won’t happen, the reality is Isak is among the most wanted forwards in Europe, at a time when most of the top clubs are looking to strengthen in attack. Liverpool is known to be a huge admirer, and speculation of a move has increased this week.

What is the current state of play?

Liverpool is very interested in a new striker this summer and Isak has been described as the ‘dream’ target by those inside the club, but there is an acceptance that a deal is at best unlikely. Tentative contact has been made between the club and both Newcastle and Isak’s representatives to understand the situation with his future and, although encouragement hasn’t been particularly forthcoming, Liverpool is said to sense a window of opportunity to strike.

The club believes Newcastle may be willing to sell the player for £150m ($202m), but that is by no means a firm price tag as has been reported in some quarters. Newcastle has used that figure as a minimum for entertaining the possibility of a sale. It is in a very strong position having won the Carabao Cup last season – with an Isak goal helping beat Liverpool at Wembley in March – and qualified for the Champions League.

There are plans to discuss an improved contract with Isak next month after a stellar season for the 25-year-old, who scored 26 goals in all competitions, although he has three years remaining on his current deal and is paid around £120,000 ($162,000) per-week. He will likely become the club’s top earner should he sign, with Newcastle willing to break the existing wage structure to make it happen. But serious play from Liverpool could complicate matters.

Last year, Newcastle CEO Darren Eales directly discussed the futures of the club’s best players, including Isak.

“They’re all under long-term contracts,” he said. “We have no intention at all of those players being moved on. We’re not under the gun or anything like that,” Eales said.

“As you know, we’ve got an ownership that is ambitious and wants the best for the club. So from that perspective, it would be crazy for us to consider it.”

“He [Isak] has multi years left [on his Newcastle contract] so as with all of these things, we will have the discussions in terms of a new deal just like we did with Joelinton, Bruno [Guimaraes], or Anthony Gordon.” Eales added.

“We’re striving, as a club, to be at the top table. We want our best players here.

“I think it shows the value of Isak that they talk about him all the time. We’re not looking to move any player on.”

Are Liverpool capable of a deal this summer?

Arne Slot’s team is looking to build on winning the Premier League title last season. Having already signed Belgian wing-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5m ($37.5m), his former team-mate Florian Wirtz is set to join him at Anfield for £116m ($156m), while a £40m ($54m) fee has been agreed with Bournemouth for fullback Milos Kerkez.

Even without factoring in reports of a potential bid for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi – a long-term Newcastle target – there are doubts a move for Isak is realistic.

But people around the club insist it is not impossible. Liverpool has not spent much over the past two years, signing only Italian forward Federico Chiesa and Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili last season for a combined £39m ($53m).

With strong revenue streams and player sales – with defender Jarrell Quansah set to join Leverkusen for £34m ($46m) and striker Darwin Nunez expected to leave for a fee of around £50m ($67m) among others – there is confidence of a striker deal. Whether that is Isak is another question.

What happens next?

The answer to that is any deal looks extremely difficult for anybody to do this summer, even the Premier League champions, without factoring in its hefty spending in the early weeks of the window.

Newcastle is not planning for life without Isak and even though talks are progressing over a deal for Brighton forward Joao Pedro, he is not a replacement but a potential team-mate.

There is no immediate threat this summer because of the length of his existing contract. While he may be open to the prospect of a move to Anfield should it present itself, there is no expectation he will push for it; there is a crucial difference. Isak has consistently said he loves Newcastle and believes he can achieve his goals at the club; last season’s success proves it.

An actual offer being on the table may also focus minds too. But optics are also important; Newcastle has no sporting director after Paul Mitchell departed, Eales will soon follow after he announced he was suffering from cancer last year, and no major signings have arrived for two years. Fans are already nervous and selling Isak would send everything spiralling out of control.

Contract talks are where a long-term indication of a deal lie. Were Isak not to agree a new deal, Newcastle’s power would wane over the next couple of years. It is no secret he could earn and probably win more elsewhere; he is developing at a greater pace than Newcastle is. Liverpool will reportedly move onto other targets if this attempt fails to lure him, but its chances of a deal may increase next year.

But all of that is speculative for the future. For now, Isak is happy, a new contract is more than possible and nobody within Newcastle is worried about losing him.