Credit: Imago

Chris Smith

Wed 6 August 2025 16:30, UK

The Alexander Isak saga shows no signs of slowing down.

'Newcastle handed Benjamin Sesko warning as Alexander Isak saga takes fresh twist'	'Alexander Isak never said he wanted to leave' - Liverpool saga takes new twist	Darwin Nunez transfer plans emerge in fresh Alexander Isak Liverpool twist

After missing out on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool, Newcastle are now in serious danger of losing their star man to the Reds, who are relentlessly chasing the Sweden international.

Isak’s head has been turned, and according to Sky Sports (6 August), the striker has been told to report late for duty to train on his own, once a gathering of player and staff families has concluded.

Liverpool succeeding in their chase for Isak seems like the most obvious conclusion to this tale, but what are three other possibilities?

(Credit: Imago)

It’s not unthinkable to suggest that Newcastle could simply dig in and refuse to sell Isak this summer.

The 25-year-old is Eddie Howe’s only recognised senior striker after the departure of Callum Wilson, and having already lost out on Ekitike, Newcastle now look to have been beaten to the signing of Benjamin Sesko by Manchester United.

There are examples of clubs refusing to sell their star players in the past, with Tottenham holding on to Harry Kane far longer than expected and the same said for Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace — while West Ham fended off interest in Declan Rice from Man United in the summer of 2022, eventually letting him go to Arsenal a year later, but only after he captained them to a Uefa Conference League title.



Alexander Isak’s stats in the 2024/25 season (Credit: Imago)

The ultimate power play from Newcastle here is to somehow convince Isak to sign a new deal.

Now, Isak currently earns £120,000 per week according to Capology, while there are reports that Liverpool are happy to pay him in excess of £300,000 per week.

That’s a serious increase for the Magpies and would mean he earns more than double any player that the club.

It’s hard to see the likes of Bruno Guimaraes or Anthony Gordon taking kindly to that, so breaking the bank to keep Isak could open a serious can of worms for Newcastle.

But, again, they are very much entitled to try it.

Eddie Howe has a difficult task on his hands (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

If Newcastle do somehow keep hold of Isak, Eddie Howe has the unenviable job of reintegrating him to the squad.

That comes with all sorts of hazards, with the rest of Newcastle’s squad very much aware of his efforts to leave this summer.

And what of the supporters?

They’re pretty riled up at the Isak saga as it is, and it’s not impossible to imagine the Galllowgate booing him when he lines up at St.
For more news relating to Manchester United, visit our sister site MUFC Live.