Sky Sports’ media push over Alexander Isak’s future has been relentless.
Commentators talking up why he’s the man for Arsenal immediately after scoring for Newcastle, Paul Merson’s constant comments or the latest discussion on The Overlap as Jamie Carragher questions where he could end up this summer if it’s not North London.
It’s non-stop. I understand interest is inevitable when he’s performing at this level – that is part of football – but the narrative and constant conversation driven by Sky Sports centres around where he’ll end up this summer, as if keeping him at Newcastle United isn’t an option.
Personally, I think Sky, Arsenal fans and other media outlets obsessing over his next move could be in for a shock. Here’s a few reasons why.
Champions League factor
If Newcastle United finish in the top five and bring Champions League football back to St James’ Park, I’m very confident Isak goes nowhere.
There is no doubt this will be a big ambition of his after missing out on Europe’s elite competition this season, but if this is on offer next term and Newcastle invest over the summer (which I expect us to do after coming out of January in a much stronger PSR position), he’ll have more than enough reasons to stick around.
On top of that, he is working under a top manager in Eddie Howe, has regularly explained how happy he is on Tyneside and he’s worshipped by fans.
Can anyone afford him?!
Point one may be irrelevant if Newcastle finish sixth or lower, but the money factor is real. Newcastle are in such a strong position to keep him from a financial point of view.
- He is contracted to the club until 2028 (and a new deal is likely at the end of the season)
- We are no longer needing to sell, unlike last June
- Ambitious Saudi owners will be determined to build this summer, not lose our star striker
On top of that, it would take a British record transfer fee to buy him, and that’s presuming Newcastle even entertain a sale at any price.
A December ‘exclusive’ from The Telegraph stated it will cost £150-plus to prise Isak away from the club, with Toon chiefs ‘relax’ about his future and the player ‘happy’ and settled in the North East.
Since then, The Telegraph have revealed that Arsenal ‘do not have the money’ to sign the 25-year-old this summer, adding that no European heavyweight has the available cash to afford him.
Some will point to Real Madrid, but they have Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, while links to Barcelona via the Spanish media seem to be forgetting their ongoing financial issues.
There may come a time where he moves on and joins one of the biggest clubs in the world to win titles and Champions Leagues, but right now it seems Sky Sports are forgetting what he’s got at Newcastle, our ambition to build with him and the mammoth asking price we have zero reason to budge from this summer.
As a player of his ability is very very rare indeed, and we are the lucky ones who happen to have him, he can be confidently labelled “irreplaceable”, consequently no fee could possibly be high enough. He’s going nowhere.
davewallace(Quote)
Gone are the Ashley days when Newcastle had nowt.Now we can compete with the big boys.
Just look at the so called top six who wanted the super league.
What would they say if the present top six went ahead with it.
What goes around comes around.
Tom(Quote)
If Paul Merson keeps trying to destabilise Newcastle with talk of transferring Isak we should threaten him with court action, especially with Isak under contract till 2028.
Better still transfer Merson to ******* or Mars on a free transfer.
Joseph(Quote)
People see it as a negative, but the more Isak is talked about, the more his stock rises.
We hold all the cards 🤷🏼♂️. Do we keep the most in form CF in Europe right now, or do we sell at an over inflated price in a deal that works for us.
I think we are where Liverpool were before they sold Courtinho. We are a great team to watch – we could get European football – we might even win a cup!!.
But where will we be in 5 years?!.
Ultimately I’ll be buzzing if we keep Isak – but a player that can change the course of a clubs future don’t come round often. If he’s sold for a huge sum which is reinvested, I could understand that too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sick of reading and hearing clickbait rubbish we want won’t get blah blah blah and sky is becoming worse than a bad comedy with the dipstick pundits same rubbish different day. He is not going anywhere Arsenal haha you are having a laugh a team we have thumped 3 times and why would Newcastle sell to a rival it would be one step forward and 3 back Arsenal couldn’t afford his left boot anyway
ToonRme(Quote)
Merson, Sky & Co all should try and pull their heads out of the sand and listen to the common sense, intelligent and informed personnel in football and try and learn something about the Premier League and what is happening. The so called big six are no more. Look where Spurs and Manu are. Look what has happened to Man City. Chelsea are trying but just not getting there and may not make it before the BIG change comes to the cartel supported by the Premier league hierarchy and Liverpool are riding high because they have at least kept pace with developments so far but not for much longer and Arsenal…oh poor Arsenal. They keep throwing their dummy out of the pram. The fans and their “manager” so believe they are a big club. Little do they seem to realise they are not. Times they are a changing and the big six cartel is disintegrating. Come on Newcastle, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton and Nottingham Forest we are taking over. Mr Clough must be smiling from ear to ear to see Nottingham Forest back where they belong. Howat the lads. Toon Army is on the move
Martyn Hancock(Quote)
If we get 130 million for him that would be unbelievable business. PSR would be irrelavent for a few years at least and we could upgrade a lot of areas in the team.
Hopefully when we do sell him its abroad.
RDB88(Quote)
Probably better to ignore all this **** and concentrate on trying to beat shittee on sat 🖤🤍🖤🤍
Sneck(Quote)