Newcastle United willing to break club wage record to keep Alexander Isak
Newcastle United are prepared to make Alexander Isak the best-paid player in the club's history and fight off any approach for their star striker.
After a season in which Isak scored 23 Premier League goals, the club are aware of growing interest in the Sweden international from leading clubs including Liverpool, Barcelona and Arsenal.
Newcastle bosses are now ready to begin talks on a new deal that would take the 25-year-old's salary beyond £150,000 a week and overtake the likes of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon, who are at present the top earners.
Liverpool have the funds to test Newcastle's resolve, despite the acquisition of Florian Wirtz for a British-record fee that could rise to £116million and a summer spend that has already reached £200million.
Newcastle are concerned an offer could be made early next month for Isak, who has scored 62 goals in three seasons since his £63million move from Real Sociedad.
While Liverpool are not thought to be actively seeking a No9, they would be among the clubs able to compete for Isak's signature if he wanted to leave. Isak has three years left on his contract at St James' Park and has not yet given any indication he wants a move.
Isak has shown no inclination to leave, while Newcastle hope their qualification for the Champions League will be a factor in keeping him
KIERAN MCMANUS/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
Any contract offer from Newcastle would not match the highest salaries at Anfield, with the club still constrained by the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules. Newcastle hope that their own qualification for the Champions League will be a factor in the player not seeking a move.
Newcastle's owners, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, do not want to sell and Eddie Howe, the club's head coach, does not want to lose a striker he has helped develop into one of the best in the world.
Isak's goal tally this season was second only to Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who found the net 29 times in the Premier League. He also scored the second goal in Newcastle's Carabao Cup final victory against Liverpool in March, the first time the club had won a major domestic trophy in 70 years.
Talks about a new deal were put on hold last summer by his agent. Newcastle were relaxed about the situation during this season despite the increasing interest.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have had an opening £45million bid for Anthony Elanga rejected by Nottingham Forest. The club failed in an approach to sign the Sweden winger on last summer's transfer deadline day.
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