- Swedish striker Alexander Isak has been in great form for the Magpies this season
- The 25-year-old would cost a British record transfer fee to sign this summer.
- Hear It’s all starting! Why Manchester United might have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer believes the only club that could afford to sign Alexander Isak this summer is Chelsea.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed that Arsenal would not be able to afford the likely British record transfer fee that would be required to take the in-form Swedish forward from St James’ Park.
Isak scored his 15th goal of the season in a man-of-the-match performance against the team he has long been linked with a move to. But despite the admiration of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and former sporting director Edu, the need to comply with the Profit and Sustainability Rules makes the move impossible.
The news is a boon for Magpies fans, including former striker Shearer, who insists the 25-year-old is too expensive for any club to take out of the North East except a Premier League team.
“Apart from Chelsea, I really don’t think anyone can afford to buy Alexander Isak; “Because of the way the rules are structured with PSR, I don’t think anyone can afford it,” he said. Betfair.
“I’ll never say the PSR rules are a good thing – even without them I’m not sure anyone could come up with the price Newcastle would ask to sell it.”
Alan Shearer believes that Chelsea are the only club that could afford to sign Alexander Isak
The Swedish striker is in top form for the Magpies and scored his 50th goal for the club in the 2-0 win over Arsenal this week.
Shearer considers that compliance with the PSR excludes all clubs, except Enzo Maresca’s team
‘I guess they wouldn’t even consider it. If you’ve paid £63m for someone and they’re tearing up the league like they are now, what would the price be?
“I’ve seen £150m talked about but I don’t think they would even consider that, why would they?”
“The problem then would be getting someone who could do such a good job. That’s what everyone needs right now: a center forward.
“There is no club in the country that would not buy a center forward like Isak if one were available.”
Newcastle sources insist there is no asking price for a player they want to keep at St James’ Park, but a fee in excess of the British record £115m Chelsea paid for Moisés Caicedo would almost certainly be needed if he were to out.
Isak’s situation on Tyneside is not simple. He is already the club’s highest-earning player and is under contract until 2028. However, there is no doubt that a player of his caliber could command a higher salary elsewhere.
For now, Newcastle cannot improve his contract status due to the PSR, but a return to the Champions League would likely change that stance come the summer. It would also provide the player with the platform of the top European competition he desires.
Eddie Howe’s side are currently fifth in the Premier League after five straight wins and a second leg against Arsenal away from the Carabao Cup final.
His improved fortunes on the pitch make the star striker’s chances of staying at the club increasingly likely. He has scored 50 goals in 89 appearances for the club since his £60m move from Real Sociedad in 2022.
