Keith Wyness hits out at Newcastle’s negotiating in Alexander Isak update
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Newcastle United must “do better” to improve their commercial income if they are to keep top players at the club.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted giving Alexander Isak a bumper new deal would “unbalance” the Magpies’ Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) situation.
Football Insider revealed on Tuesday (29 October) that Newcastle are in no panic about the contract situation of the star striker despite a stall in talks.
Manager Eddie Howe weighed in on the saga over the weekend to tell Isak, 25, to “focus on football”.
Newcastle came close to a breach of financial rules and subsequent points deduction in the summer and avoided trouble by selling Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh.
Newcastle must improve commercial income to keep Isak, says Wyness
Wyness insisted the club must explore more lucrative sponsorship deals with the stable of companies owned or part-owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I’m sure they can offer Isak a new contract.
“But then again, it would unbalance their PSR situation. It’s not a lack of resources, it’s just not being able to spend.
“Newcastle have got to do better at getting their commercial income up to improve their football budget.
“They’ve got to work harder.
“I’m surprised they haven’t done more deals with companies the PIF have invested in – there are some of the biggest companies in the world.
“I would have thought there would be some creative or charitable ways to get some big sponsorship in.
“It’s only the PSR worries, as I understand it, that is stopping any major deal for Isak or big spending on new players in the market.
“They want to keep him, he’s a quality player – so I think they’ll find a way.”
In other news, Newcastle told to sack Eddie Howe after latest news.
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