As far as the title race is concerned, the defending Premier League champions will be favourites when the new season kicks off just under a month from now but, realistically, any one of last term’s top three could lift the silverware.
Add Alexander Isak into that mix and they would be overwhelming favourites.
That is why the Swede, in this SBOTOP writer’s view as good as any frontman in Europe last season, is a must-keep on Tyneside.
The fact I write this on the day Liverpool have reportedly agreed a £69 million fee, plus £10m in add-ons, for the Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike – taking their summer spending to almost £300m – all but means they realise Isak can not be prized away from Newcastle United.
And quite frankly, why would they sell?
Here is a player who helped the Toon Army defy the Premier League 2025 betting odds to lead them into the Champions League for the second time in three seasons.
This rounded off a campaign in which they ended 55 years of hurt in spectacular fashion with a memorable League Cup triumph in March – against the Merseysiders – with Isak netting a memorable winner.
He more than anyone delivered Premier League 2025 highlights for the Geordies and demonstrates why the club won’t be bullied over the future of the Swedish international.
Newcastle had a bid for Ekitike turned down last week and Liverpool promptly jumped in. But if that move was designed to weaken their resolve over Isak, it didn’t work.
He was left out of the squad for Newcastle opening friendly of pre-season on Saturday which did little to dampen speculation but, it appears, was a decision made to take him out of the spotlight.
When Newcastle were looking to close the gap on the “Big Six”, they signed up-and-coming players who could grow with them. They identified players with potential, such as Isak, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães, before the bigger clubs were willing to take a chance on them. Their needs are different now. They have closed the gap, but staying there is a different sort of challenge.
Isak is far too good and far too integral to how they play to lose him. Struggling to sign players is one thing; selling the world-class ones you have would be even worse.
Even more so when you consider they already need a striker with manager Eddie Howe on the hunt for a frontman to challenge and compliment Isak, following the departure of Callum Wilson on the expiry of his contract.
No wonder he has caught the eye of suitors such as the Merseysiders. He not only scored the winning goal against them in the League Cup Final in March but also scored against them on his debut for the club in August 2022, the first of so far 62 in 109 appearances for Newcastle across all competitions.
There is something the club should do now before they even consider bringing in another player to complement his talents.
If reports are to be believed that he is somewhat disillusioned, it will likely stem back to the fact former co-owner Amanda Staveley promised Isak a new contract in 2024.
However, the businesswoman and her husband and business partner, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, sold their shares and left the club in July of that year, before a new deal had been agreed.
Paul Mitchell took over as sporting director that same month, but with three years remaining on Isak’s contract and the club struggling PSR-wise, the new recruitment chief “decided not to open those talks” with the striker.
This led to “acrimony”, and the striker’s agent felt personally “insulted” by the situation before Mitchell himself departed the club earlier this summer.
Whatever instability that may have caused needs to be put aside immediately and Newcastle tie down their most valuable asset.
Failure to do so, could let Arsenal – who are clearly admirers – through the door as they aim to go one better than three successive seasons as Premier League runners-up.
Newcastle United have a rich history of centre forwards, dating back to the legendary Number Nine Jackie Milburn, through to Malcolm MacDonald in the 1970s, Alan Shearer 20 years later and now Swedish sensation Isak.
He is very much on the list of the best frontmen in Europe, which boasts Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and the considerably older but still prolific duo of Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski.
A huge profit on a man who cost £63m may end any lingering concerns about financial fair play at the club (if there is an issue) but, put simply, you don’t let players like that leave!
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