Newcastle United look increasingly likely to keep superstar centre-forward Alexander Isak despite rumours of a transfer to Liverpool.

The Premier League champions have two areas within their squad that they intend to prioritise this summer. Arne Slot is on the market for a left-sided defender, which is likely to be Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez.

A number nine is also high on the Reds wishlist. Unsurprisingly, Isak has dominated the conversation of who Liverpool will look to recruit when the window opens – however, the transfer saga may be over before it truly starts.

Isak to Liverpool a non-starter?

Liverpool offloading significant funds on the new contracts of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk may mean any talk of Alexander Isak moving to Merseyside is over before it even begins, according to a football finance expert.

Professor Rob Wilson, programme director at the University Campus of Football Business, believes the Reds have backed themselves into a corner PSR-wise with bumper contracts handed to their pair of key players.

It is believed Newcastle have set an asking price of £150m for their talismanic forward, which is set to be far out of the budget for both Liverpool and Arsenal this summer.

“Liverpool are in decent financial shape but their ongoing commitments are significant. So I wouldn’t be expecting big, big acquisitions for Liverpool this summer,” explains Professor Wilson.

“It appears to me they have backed themselves into an almost unmanageable corner with Van Dijk and Salah contract negotiations – they’re spending a huge amount on those two contracts which they can’t now re-invest in the playing squad.

“Those two players haven’t got any resale value, which may be a problem in two or three years. I’d estimate it’ll be net expenditure of £100m, perhaps, this summer which in today’s market requires smart investment.

“I don’t think they could afford Isak, PSR-wise, with the valuations Newcastle are looking at. It would blow the entire budget in one fell swoop if they did do it and that’s not something we’d associate with Liverpool’s approach.”

Champions League qualification could end debate

We are set to reopen contract talks with Isak this summer and offer the forward, who currently has three years remaining on his current deal, a boost in wages – with the club believing he will be satisfied with our ambitious recruitment plans.

Though he has shown no signs of pushing for a move, if we want to keep the Swede 100% happy then we must qualify for the Champions League – it’s where a player of Isak’s quality belongs after all!

All indications are that Isak will be staying with us next season, but securing qualification for European football’s premiere competition would hopefully put a halt to the media noise about the 25-year-old’s future.