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Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has reportedly made a shock wage demand of £300,000 per week to sign a new contract, a salary that would catapult him into the Premier League’s top 10 highest earners and make him the best-paid player at Newcastle by a large margin. This demand represents a 250% increase on his current deal signed in August 2022, where he earned significantly less, with Newcastle previously considering an offer around £180,000 per week, already a 50% rise. The new demand has reportedly caught Newcastle management off-guard, raising doubts about his future at the club.

Isak, 25, has attracted attention from Liverpool, who are reportedly interested despite Newcastle’s firm stance that he is not for sale. Additionally, Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal has shown interest in the Sweden international, which adds to the uncertainty surrounding his status. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has acknowledged Isak's "unsettled" situation due to the summer transfer speculation. This unrest led to Isak being left out of the team for their recent 4-0 pre-season defeat to Celtic, a decision Howe explained was in Isak’s best interests amid the ongoing transfer noise.

Howe emphasized the club's desire to retain Isak, calling him a player to be treasured given the difficulty of recruiting and developing top talent. Nonetheless, the gap between the club’s proposed new wage offer and Isak’s demands has placed Newcastle in a challenging position, with reports suggesting the club may have to reconsider their stance or potentially be forced to sell. Despite the contract impasse, Howe remains hopeful Isak will remain a Newcastle player by the end of the transfer window.

Isak’s wage demand positions him financially on par with high-profile players like Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford, surpassed only by elite players such as Mo Salah, Erling Haaland, and Virgil van Dijk. This scenario highlights the significant financial challenge Newcastle faces in satisfying their star striker’s demands without disrupting the club’s wage structure.

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