Newcastle Prepares Record-Breaking Move to Shield Alexander Isak from Transfer Vultures
Newcastle United are reportedly prepared to break their current salary ceiling and offer Alexander Isak a club-record contract to fend off numerous interested clubs vying for his signature.
Following his second straight campaign of netting over 20 Premier League goals, Isak has reached elite status. The athletic 25-year-old has become one of the world's most coveted strikers, with Arsenal, Barcelona and Liverpool among those showing keen interest.
However, Newcastle have clearly stated they have no plans to sell their prolific goalscorer. The Magpies are actually seeking to add a striking partner rather than find a replacement.
In their most recent effort to convince Isak to stay at St. James' Park, Newcastle are ready to present their star player with a salary that would set new club records, according to The Times. Isak currently receives approximately £120,000 ($163,000) weekly and may be offered fresh terms that exceed the team's present ceiling of £150,000 ($204,000).
Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon are believed to be the top three earners who would be overtaken should a deal be reached.
Nevertheless, the situation remains complex. Isak's representative allegedly halted contract talks last summer and negotiations have yet to resume. While there's no indication that Isak desires to leave—Newcastle just completed their finest campaign in years, securing Champions League football and breaking a 56-year trophy jinx—The Times report that Eddie Howe's team are "worried" about Liverpool's pursuit.
The current Premier League titleholders have been setting new spending benchmarks during this transfer window, investing £116 million ($157.9 million) solely on Florian Wirtz's acquisition.
The German playmaker is anticipated to become the third-highest earner at Liverpool, positioned below Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah in the pay structure, on wages that would still surpass any offer Newcastle could make to Isak. The Magpies must navigate stricter financial constraints than Liverpool regarding the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules due to their significantly lower revenue streams.
While suggestions indicate Liverpool aren't desperately seeking a new striker this summer—even if they succeed in moving Darwin Núñez—the club's bold transfer window approach means all possibilities remain open, validating Newcastle's apprehensions.