Alexander Isak and Liverpool rumours: What's really going on at Newcastle

Telegraph

5 hours ago

It was always going to happen at some point this summer: the stories claiming Alexander Isak could be on the move.
The sudden explosion of noise suggesting the Sweden international is on his way to Liverpool has, even by modern standards, been intense over the last 48 hours.
What starts out as a rumour rapidly gains traction and spreads like a virus. It is talked and typed about incessantly.
Liverpool are interested. Liverpool are going to make their move. A stunning world-record bid. Isak is keen on the switch. His agent is already thrashing out personal terms. Isak has spoken to his future team-mates, he has spoken to Arne Slot. Contact has been made, talks have been going on in private, Newcastle are powerless, the player will demand to leave...
Before you know it, we find ourselves in a situation where, if you believe the rumours, Isak is on his way to Liverpool and the Premier League title is heading back to Anfield in 2026.
The reality is rather different. Newcastle United supporters can barely scroll anywhere on social media without seeing someone claiming Isak is Liverpool-bound.
They can probably relax: Telegraph Sport has spoken to sources at both ends of this transfer story and the truth is, nothing has changed and nothing is imminent.
Do Liverpool like Isak? Yes, of course they do. Would they love to have him in their team? They would be stupid not to. Do they expect to be able to sign him this summer? Almost certainly not.
According to multiple sources at Newcastle, there has been no contact with Liverpool about Isak. There have been no formal or even informal discussions. There has not been an inquiry.
Given Newcastle manager Eddie Howe knows Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes and chief executive Michael Edwards extremely well, it is reasonable to assume they would have had at least a conversation to assess the landscape.
In turn, Newcastle's stance has not changed. It would take a bid, well in excess of £150 million, for Newcastle to even start a negotiation with an interested party. The key part of that sentence is 'well in excess.'
We are not just talking about a new British record transfer fee, we are looking at something approaching the £200 million world record Paris St-Germain paid to sign Neymar from Barcelona.
Newcastle do not want to sell, they do not need to sell and they will, as far as they are concerned, not be selling.
Those who are desperate for this deal to happen will argue: 'But what if the player wants to leave? The players always get what they want'. They make a valid point, but when that player has three years left on their contract, the club still holds a lot of the cards. Newcastle can dig in and resist. And they will do.
Isak settled on Tyneside
Isak has not said he wants to leave, he has never agitated to do so or given any indication, even to team-mates, that he wishes to depart. Things can always change in this respect but those who know Isak do not expect him to suddenly demand an exit.
That is not the same thing as saying he wants to stay at Newcastle for the rest of his career. It does not even mean he will sign the contract extension he will be offered later this summer. But in terms of a transfer in this window, the chances of it happening are extremely remote.
If Isak does not sign a new deal, it could well be a different situation in 12 months' time when they will be conscious of maximising any fee they can receive, but for now, there is no stress or concern.
Even if they do get into a position where they have to consider a sale, the likelihood is they will negotiate with teams abroad rather than any domestic rival.
If Liverpool can sell Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz in the weeks ahead, maybe they will free up the funds to test Newcastle's resolve with an actual bid, but that resolve will not be easily broken. The message has been clear for months. Isak is not for sale and Newcastle are not under any pressure from a profit and sustainability rules (PSR) perspective to sell anyone.
The intention from Newcastle's side is to keep hold of their entire blue-chip brigade and add quality to it.
That is proving harder than they thought. Some of their top targets, Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, look like they are going elsewhere. Liam Delap decided to sign for Chelsea.
A move for Brighton's Joao Pedro has been made but there are fears the forward would prefer to live in London and is waiting for Chelsea to firm up their interest rather than commit to Newcastle at this early stage of the summer. Interest in Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga remains ongoing but there does not appear to be anything more concrete than that.
This is all cause for concern. Frustration on Tyneside is growing at the lack of progress being made. The speed and dynamism in the market that Howe called for has not manifested, but work is still being done. Not every target has been lost and not every name is in the public domain.
In terms of Isak, though. there is less reason for anyone to be agitated. Everyone in football said Newcastle would not sell him back in May and nothing has changed in June.