‘Newcastle set to pay £150m for new striker after fresh Alexander Isak claim’
Newcastle may have to fork out up to £150million for a new striker if they sell main man Alexander Isak in this summer transfer window.
The Magpies have been inundated with interest for their Swedish striker to the point where it is becoming increasingly more difficult to hold onto him.
All summer long, the number 14 has been linked with a move away from St James’ Park with Liverpool the front runners for his signature.
In the latest development, the Toon turned down a £100m bid from the Reds [Sky Sports] as they struggle to keep their 2024-25 top goalscorer on Tyneside.
Eddie Howe has been eyeing up replacements for the 25-year-old including Yoane Wissa of Brentford and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig.
Clubs to hold Newcastle ‘to ransom’ if they sell Isak
Discussing the ongoing Isak situation on talkSPORT (3 August), Natalie Sawyer and ex-Ireland striker Tony Cascarino pointed out the potential downsides for demanding an eye-watering fee for the Swede.
The Toon’s reported demand for £150m for the striker’s services could have repercussions on the club’s transfer dealings with Sesko.
Sawyer said: “Other clubs who are like RB Leipzig are looking on thinking “hang on, if you’re [Newcastle] going to get £150m or £130m for [Alexander] Isak, we don’t just want to get £70m, we’re going to hold you to ransom a little bit, surely?” That’s inevitable isn’t it?”
Given that the Magpies are amongst Man United and other clubs interested in the Slovenian, Cascarino added: “Newcastle know that they are going to have to push it a bit harder.
“Man United have made their interest quite clear…there’s more than one party involved in this.
There’s probably three maybe four teams who are going “we’ll take him [Sesko] if the price is right, we can do the deal”, they’ll go for him…You’re going to have to pay top dollar for him, you’re not getting him cheap.”
Newcastle in a lose-lose situation with Isak and Sesko
Football Insider verdict
Regardless of whether the Toon’s sensational striker stays or goes, Howe is in an extremely tricky spot.
If the Swede ends up staying after the club reject bid after bid, there is a chance the number 14 plays half-heartedly in order to try and force a move in January.
On the other hand, selling their prized asset for anywhere around £130-150m would give the Magpies an incredible amount of transfer funds
Yet, the knowledge of their new found fortune would be the universal knowledge of all clubs in the world, likely pushing up the asking price if Newcastle approach them.
| Alexander Isak | Benjamin Sesko | |
| Appearances | 42 | 45 |
| Goals | 27 | 21 |
| Assists | 6 | 6 |
In the instance of Leipzig, they know they hold the bargaining power with the north-east side given there are many suitors for their stunning Slovenian and the black-and-white would possess immense wealth.
This could lead to an inflated fee being paid which would harm the ex-Bournemouth boss’ transfer dealings, a situation the club’s hierarchy must avoid at all costs.
Historically, when a club has sold a star player, they have been forced to fork out amounts way above the original asking price.
For example, when Tottenham sold star man Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for £85.3m (BBC Sport), the Lilywhites signed Premier League flops Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela for more than £50m combined.
The pair endured woeful top-flight careers and were worth far less on the basis of their poor performances.