Yasir Al-Rumayyan instructed Newcastle United to reject Liverpool approach for Alexander Isak

Yasir Al-Rumayyan has already ordered Newcastle United decision makers to keep Alexander Isak at St James’ Park.

Liverpool supporters have been getting carried away on social media amid speculation linking their club with the Toon talisman. Isak - who scored 27 goals across all competitions - was crucial in Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup, ironically netting against the Reds at Wembley.

The Swede - whose contract has three years left to run - recently informed St James’ Park chiefs that he would like to explore his options this summer. This bombshell revelation came after Isak was left out of the 4-0 defeat to Celtic and Newcastle’s pre-season tour to Asia.

The Magpies are already identifying replacements for a potential worst-case scenario. It is understood that any offer would need to be in the region of £150million to begin a conversation regarding the 25-year-old.

Alexander Isak contract and Hugo Ekitike saga

Talk of a new deal was put on ice last season as Newcastle and Isak focused on their season objectives. NewcastleWorld understands the plan was always to sign another striker to accompany Isak, with offers made for Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Yoane Wissa.

Toon chiefs wanted to negotiate an enhanced deal with the Swede once the transfer noise cooled. However, that did not stop Liverpool from enquiring about a move for Isak last week.

A game of transfer poker involving Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ekitike - a player Newcastle and the Reds liked - created a bizarre dynamic. Liverpool ultimately snatched the Frenchman from under United’s nose and would be one of the front-runners to sign Isak - a potentially embarrassing situation.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan loves Alexander Isak

The Daily Mail reported in March - following the Carabao Cup triumph - that Isak is chairman Al-Rumayyan’s favourite player. In the report, the PIF governor is also said to have told the St James’ Park hierarchy to snub all offers for the forward.

Barcelona were the club thought to be monitoring Isak at the time but their financial situation makes any move impossible. Until recent events, keeping him on Tyneside was viewed as a non-negotiable, with Newcastle wanting to bolster their attacking ranks ahead of a huge campaign.

Anthony Elanga has already joined and the Magpies are in talks with Brentford about signing Wissa. A six-pronged attack of Elanga, Wissa, Isak, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy would give Eddie Howe a raft of options ahead of the new campaign.

That is, of course, dependant on Isak staying. Expect this saga to rumble on over the ensuing days and weeks.

Eddie Howe on Yasir Al-Rumayyan meeting

Howe and Al-Rumayyan discussed the summer transfer window following the final game of the season. He told reporters: “As far as I’m aware, we do not have any PSR issues heading into this deadline. Now, I have to put a caveat in there, because I’m not seeing the figures, I’m only relaying what I’m getting told. But I think we are in a lot healthier position and a lot stronger position than we were at this time last year.

“We are looking to reverse what we did last summer. This time, we are in a strong position ourselves where we’ll be looking to make additions to the squad. I will have a discussion with the chairman and representatives from PIF today, and I’m looking forward to that.

“We will be trying to lay some foundations for what lies ahead in the summer. In terms of timings and everything that follows that, I don’t know, but the planning and all the things that go on behind the scenes have been there for a number of weeks now.

“We have been working hard to try to set things up for what we need to do. I think whenever I speak to the chairman, he is very focused on success. He is focused on achieving and winning, and he always leaves me in doubt that that’s what he wants, I’m working towards that.”

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