Alexander Isak, Newcastle United’s prolific young forward, was reported to be looking to agitate a move this summer. Isak indeed had a phenomenal season, netting 39 goals in the PL. Now, there are serious questions surrounding his future at the club. Newcastle have signed Anthony Elanga recently to add more depth to their attacking options. In the meantime, Isak remains a favorite in transfer circles.
Even with the swirling rumors, as it stands currently, Isak has not submitted an official transfer request. He’s very publicly engaged with the debate about a new contract with Newcastle for the last few months. Yet, they have been unable to come to terms. With the transfer window still raging on, Liverpool’s reported interest in Isak makes things tricky.
Liverpool’s Interest and Newcastle’s Position
It follows Liverpool making an informal approach for Isak last week before going on to sign Hugo Ekitike. The Merseyside club have been long-term admirers of Isak and view him as a potentially huge addition to their squad. Yet Chelsea have already been ruled out as contenders for his signature, potentially leaving Liverpool as the only serious suitors.
Newcastle to this day holds their ground on Isak’s worth, allegedly demanding £150 million for their goal machine striker. This weighty bill is indicative of their faith in his upside and what he has showed thus far. Isak has a case too, as his wages are at the same level as other top strikers. Needless to say, the boy’s not happy with his current pay at Newcastle.
“He feels he should be paid similar to the top strikers, and he’s not at Newcastle. If he moved to a new club, whether that’s Liverpool or elsewhere, he would be remunerated in that way.”
The continued speculation around his future has lately weighed heavily on Isak. He recently had to miss a match due to a niggling thigh injury. This has left many questioning his availability for the next matches. A long-haul flight would have severely disrupted his healing and recovery process.
Eddie Howe’s Perspective
The tougher home conditions have been duly noted by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, particularly as they relate to Isak. He revealed that he has had discussions with the poacher. Perhaps most importantly, he highlighted that these type of conversations should not be uncommon in football.
“I’ve had discussions with him, but that’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realise there’ll be noise around him.” – Eddie Howe
Howe’s remarks speak to the thin line that clubs sometimes have to walk when they are negotiating with players who have received attention from elsewhere. The done deal pressure on Howe is very strong. Secondly, he will have to juggle the absence of a sporting director and the continued search for a new CEO.
The manager’s recent exhaustion was apparent after a match against Celtic, where speculation around Isak’s future loomed large. The vague nature of the big players creates more than just a difficult roster to manage, it kills morale across the board.
Future Considerations for Isak
With the summer transfer window still in its early stages, Isak’s dominoes are still in play. Though he made the trip to Glasgow a couple of weeks ago, he went home after his preliminary visit amid continued speculation about his future. This decision highlights the psychological burden that transfer speculation can place on athletes.
Now, Isak and Newcastle are at a crossroads. The club reportedly refuses to let him go and plans to have him on their books by the close of the window. Yet, Isak’s quest to find alternatives demonstrates he is making levelheaded decisions and considering all of his options.
Newcastle’s ambitions are obvious, they’re after another striker to challenge Isak. They need to be realistic about what they want against the fact that they need to get players locked down, when there’s fierce competition from other clubs.
Leave a Reply