- Swedish striker Alexander Isak has been in blistering form for Magpies this season
- The 25-year-old would cost a British record transfer fee to sign him this summer
- Listen to It all starts! Why Manchester United may have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer believes Chelsea are the only club who can afford to sign Alexander Isak this summer.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed that Arsenal would be unable to raise the likely British record transfer fee that would be needed to sign the in-form Swedish striker from St James’ Park.
Isak scored his fifteenth goal of the season in a man-of-the-match performance against the team long linked with his signing. But despite the admiration of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and former sporting director Edu, the need to comply with profit and sustainability rules makes a move impossible.
The news comes as a boon for Magpies supporters, including former striker Shearer, who is adamant the 25-year-old is too expensive for any club to win away from the North East, bar one 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 at PSR, I don’t think anyone can afford it,” he shared Honestly.
‘I will never say that the PSR rules are a good thing. Even if there aren’t, I’m not sure anyone could pay the price Newcastle would ask to sell him.
Alan Shearer believes Chelsea are the only club who can afford to sign Alexander Isak
The Swedish striker has been in red-hot form for the Magpies, scoring his 50th goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Arsenal this week
Shearer believes PSR compliance will rule out all clubs except Enzo Maresca’s side
‘I suspect they wouldn’t even enjoy it. If you paid £63 million for someone and he crushed the league like he is doing now, what would the price be?
‘I’ve seen talk of £150m but I don’t think they’d even be happy with that, why would they?
‘The problem would then be to bring in someone who can do just as good a job. That’s what everyone needs at the moment: a centre-forward.
‘There isn’t a club in the country that wouldn’t buy a centre-forward like Isak if he was available.’
Newcastle sources insist there is no asking price for a player they want to keep at St James’ Park, but a fee higher than the British record £115m Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo would almost certainly be required he would leave.
Isak’s situation on Tyneside is not easy. He is already the club’s top earner and has a contract until 2028. However, there is no doubt that a player of his caliber could demand a higher wage elsewhere.
For now, Newcastle cannot improve their contract status due to PSR, but a return to the Champions League would likely change that attitude next 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 thanks to five straight wins and a second leg against Arsenal away from the Carabao Cup final.
Their improved fortunes on the pitch make the chances of the star striker staying at the club increasingly likely. He has scored 50 goals in 89 appearances for the club since signing for £60m from Real Sociedad in 2022.