‘Crazy’ - Newcastle United send official warning to Arsenal and Liverpool over Alexander Isak transfer

Newcastle United have issued a ‘hands off’ warning to any clubs wanting to tempt Alexander Isak away from St James’ Park, with CEO Darren Eales claiming the Magpies would be ‘crazy’ to even consider a sale.

And that comes as a real blow to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, and their hopes of landing the player at the end of the season.

Tabloids and social media have been awash with rumours about clubs interested in Isak, and how the player could leave Newcastle for £80million, or £100million or any other made up number.

Many of said rumours point towards Newcastle’s need to raise cash, having had PSR compliance struggles in the summer of 2024. But CEO Darren Eales has addressed the Isak talk when discussing the club’s financial landscape.

Eales revealed United are compliant with PSR and have absolutely no need to sell any of their star names, including the likes of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento or Bruno Guimaraes.

And it the exits of Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly in January, Eales revealed, have helped matters further - and should mean there is no fire sale akin to the one of June 2024, this summer.

“We're in a position now where because of the fact we were able to move a couple of players in January (2024) that weren't really impacting on minutes on the pitch. We've got that wish and desire to keep our key players, they're all under long-term contracts,” said Eales when quizzed about the future of Isak.

“So from that perspective we have no intention at all of those players being moved on, and we're not under the gun or anything like that. We've got an ownership that is ambitious, wants the best for the club. So from that perspective, it'd be crazy for us to consider it.”

Isak is ‘world class’ but NUFC aren’t yet at ‘top table’ - Eales

Eales understands speculation is part of football, but does admit the constant links with Isak and other players is tiresome.

He accepts Newcastle United need to fulfil their ambitions of reaching football’s ‘top table’, though, in order for the noise to quieten when it comes to player exits.

“It is part of football. You would rather have people talking about players than not in the sense we know he is a world class player and he is somebody, obviously, other clubs would covet because he is an incredible player,” he said.

“It is part and parcel of the world we live in, but it is frustrating. It is part of what football is, everybody wants to have a story [transfer speculation] and talk about it but when you think about the growth of Newcastle we have the ambition to be a top club.

“There is a sense of annoyance as we are almost seen as the next category down and it is fair game to talk about our players but we are striving as a club to be at the top table and we want our best players here and to be honest it shows the value Isak has that they talk about him all the time.”

In other news, 'Significant strides' - Newcastle United official document lays bare Premier League PSR situation.