Mike Ashley cited as Newcastle told how to respond to ‘another Liverpool bid for Isak’
Newcastle could choose to reject all offers from Liverpool for Alexander Isak this summer to avoid bolstering their rivals.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively that the Magpies are learning to adjust to a “different market” following their transition from relegation battlers to a Champions League participant.
Eddie Howe‘s side has tried, and largely failed, to sign the majority of their transfer targets this summer.
Bryan Mbeumo, James Trafford, Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, Dean Huijsen, Mohammed Kudus, Liam Delap, and Joao Pedro were all Newcastle targets, but each player has chosen a move elsewhere.
The setbacks have been compounded by Isak’s desperation to join Liverpool, as the forward is now on strike, leaving William Osula as the only recognised number nine available to Howe.
Newcastle ‘don’t want to sell to a rival’
This article contains exclusive comment from Dan Plumley, a football finance expert and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.
Should Isak leave, the Magpies will have just two weeks to find a replacement, whilst also getting their side ready to compete on four fronts this season.
Depth was an issue last season, and with Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw, and Aaron Ramsdale being the only new senior signings this summer, Howe’s side are struggling to cope with adjusting to life as a big club, Dan Plumley told Football Insider exclusively.
And speaking on Isak specifically, the finance expert suggested that Newcastle should “stick to their guns” and avoid selling the 25-year-old.
Plumley said: “If Liverpool come back in with another bid and the Isak transfer goes through, and they don’t sign Wissa, then the summer doesn’t look as good as it was for Newcastle.
“They’re back in the Champions League; that squad’s going to have to compete, and it’s going to be tricky.
“I think the mood might change a little bit.
“But that said, if you look at where they were with Mike Ashley, and look at where they are now, there’s a kind of perspective point to that as well.
“They’re in a different market now. Newcastle United, and we’re now starting to see how that interfaces with other clubs.
“They’ve got to be prepared to tackle that because those top clubs, that’s how they work.
“It’s really ruthless, and you know you don’t want to sell to a rival. They’ve got to stick by their guns on that one.”
Newcastle target Porto star Samu Aghehowa
Newcastle‘s plan this summer was to find a new striker to partner with Isak, rather than one to replace him.
Whilst Sesko, Delap, Ekitike, and Pedro were the initial targets, they have all since moved elsewhere, forcing the Magpies to look at alternative options.
As such, Newcastle are now keen on signing Porto forward Samu Aghehowa, Mick Brown told Football Insider.
However, the Magpies will need to fend off interest from Aston Villa in the Spanish sensation in order to secure his signature.