Newcastle United 'demand' world record fee for star with second best minute-per-goal record in Europe

Newcastle United have demanded a figure close to £200m for top-scorer Alexander Isak, amid interest from Premier League title challengers Arsenal, according to reports.

Isak, 24, fired in an incredible 25 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions last season. In doing so he became the first Newcastle striker since Alan Shearer in 2004 to surpass the 20 goal-mark in a single top-flight season, and just the fourth ever Newcastle player in the Premier League era to manage the feat along with Les Ferdinand and Andrew Cole.

The Swede’s prolific form in front of goal made him the third-highest goalscorer in the Premier League last term behind Erling Haaland (27) and Cole Palmer (22).

Isak (108) also boasts the second best minutes-per-goal record of all the top 20 Premier League scorers with only Haaland (95) managing a better ratio. He has been lauded for the variety of different goals that he has scored this season and the manner in which he has breezed past some of the division’s most in-form defenders such as Jarrad Branthwaite, Micky Van De Ven and more. 

The style of his goals and his composure in front of goal has drawn comparison to former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, and it is not surprising that the Gunners, who were a whisker away from the Premier League title are interested in signing the striker.

Many pundits including Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane have all agreed that it is the main area Arsenal need to strengthen, but Newcastle are determined to keep their talisman, with The Mirror reporting that officials have laughed off rumours of him leaving for £90m.

As it stands, Isak is Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever at £60m. When asked about his future last month, Isak said: "Yeah, of course I want to be here in the future. I came here for the project, I absolutely love playing here, I really feel at home. I want to finish this season in a good way for me and the team. I love playing here.”

If the Gunners are willing to bid £200m for Isak - an outcome that is highly unlikely - it would make him the joint-most expensive footballer in history behind Brazil star Neymar, who moved to PSG from Barcelona in 2017.