Newcastle United look to have been dealt a hammer blow in our hopes to keep Alexander Isak at the club this summer.
It was revealed earlier on Thursday morning that Isak had not travelled with the squad to Singapore as part our pre-season tour of Asia.
Having not played at all during pre-season, many had hoped Isak’s continued absence was just a necessary precaution to allow him to recover from a thigh injury.
But unfortunately, this doesn’t look to be the case, as a new report from the local media hints that the player’s had has indeed been turned…
Isak tells Newcastle he wants to explore his options
According to The Mail’s Craig Hope, Isak has reportedly told the club that he wants to explore options away from the club.
The club’s hierarchy is reportedly aware of the striker’s ambitions, despite him currently having three years on his current contract.
Hope adds “For now, though, Isak and his camp do not want to commit, with Liverpool interested in making the Swede a British record signing.”
The news does imply that contract extension talks with Isak have either stalled or not even started, which had hoped to push Isak to be one of (if not THE) club’s highest earners.
Who could Newcastle sign if the worst happens?
As little as Eddie Howe and the club higher-ups want to think about it, it’s now time to knuckle down and find the club’s next starting striker.
There’s so far been no concrete second bid for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, with the Bees looking to get around £40m for the Congolese star, well above our initial £25m bid.
Benjamin Sesko is a name that’s been tentatively linked this window, and with RB Leipzig not having any European football next season, we’re perhaps a very easy sell and appealing option to the young striker.
This is absolutely gut wrenching….. I hope to god it’s only his agent negotiating for a well deserved pay rise!
Alex(Quote)
If Isak goes then the season’s already over. We’ll be fighting to try and get top ten. We’ll have ZERO senior strikers, no options that will be even half as good as him, everyone will cost £100m and we STILL need a CB, CM, striker and goalkeeper….
At this rate we’re going to have Calvert Lewin up front which means about 2 goals from our centre forward.
I cannot grasp people thinking this is okay- we’re already in serious trouble in terms of the squad. It’s getting weaker and weaker every window and no signs of ever making a signing that actually improves our first 11.
Phil(Quote)
Craig Hope is losing some fans support including me, negativity is his main issue just now, nothing fresh even his youtube page is barren. Something not right with him? Hwtl
Kiddafromthetoon(Quote)
Cash in if we can.
Make the squad stronger. We’ll be better off without him
Haz(Quote)
We need 4 players before we’ve lost Isak.
Would have been ok to lose him a month ago
Bill Hughes(Quote)
Craig dope won’t know the details ..need to wait if isak or agent or club confirm as this could be another media “ exclusive” .. if this goes on much longer we should flog him anyway to Al hilal but definitely not a prem team.. the team are in great shape he is just one element .. get rid and buy another top striker like Sesko retague , etc …
Mike(Quote)
Calm down. We won’t be held to ransom, we said 150m to get to the table, seskos release fee is around 80. I doubt Liverpool can afford 150 even if selling Diaz. Al halil probably can and if isak wants to go to Saudi (or any other club for that matter) then he should, we want players who want to play for us. It is unfortunate, we all love isak but if he only wants money then he’s certainly not the person I thought he was.
Sean(Quote)
A chain of events that with anyone with even a modicum of intelligence running the operations of the club should have foreseen and headed-off; either through quickly acquiring a replacement and selling for £££s; or renegotiating his Contract. Regardless of how treacherous this may seem, nobody can seriously blame Isak and his agent for cynically using the lack of striking options (and abject failure to reinforce) as a means to strengthen the bargaining position.
If we’re not going to pay him what he wants, then he needs to go (but not to a PL side). The most worrying thing here is the deafening silence, and the lack of competence and capability to negotiate an improved contract or a sale. The footballing operations appears to be utterly rudderless and no lessons learned from last summer.
Peaco(Quote)
Like I said on another thread if he wants out sell him to PSG, Barca or Real f*** the cartel.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Let him go. No point keeping a player that wants out. pack him off to saudi and get osimhen or sesko in as replacement. The secret sauce isn’t isak Its eddie howe. He’ll just create a new isak.
Usheydwhdu(Quote)
PIF and Newcastle plus Villa and Forest are being played like a fiddle by every premier league club and Richard Masters with their crooked voting that is designed to protect the cartel.
Not impressed with the PIF either indirectly and directly sponsoring the same cartel.
They should sell Isak only to the Saudi’s for £150m and then go and buy some loyal footballers without greedy agents if they can be found anywhere.
The smell of greed and corruption is overwhelming. 🤮
Joseph(Quote)
There is absolutely no reason on earth for Isak to be loyal to NUFC. When he, sadly, goes, we will never see a c/f with his astounding talent again. Many of us noted he stopped performing after the Cup Final, so why should we be so surprised? Disappointed, yes, massively. Off you go, son, thanks for the £100m+ profit and everything you’ve done for us, because, for sure, we couldn’t possibly have done it, or come remotely near it, without you.
A great goalscorer.
Thanks you very much, all the best.
davewallace(Quote)
Get rid to Saudi if moneys what he wants. Just please not to Liverpool. Oshimen or Toney good replacement. Howe seems to value premier league experience so would prefer Abraham ahead of Calvert-lewin. Let isak go bring in 2 good players with the money.
DR Toonman(Quote)