When Newcastle United qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League, Magpie fans imagined an exciting future, one where they would be able to hold on to superstar striker Alexander Isak and perhaps even bolster their attack by adding Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
Instead, today Ekitike is a Liverpool player after Newcastle’s interest became public and forced the Reds to accelerate plans to sign him. Liverpool quickly pushed through a £79M transfer for the 23-year-old rising star. Newcastle fans consoled
themselves thinking that at least that ensured they would keep Isak.
Now, though, it appears Liverpool may manage to tear him away from the Magpies as well, with widespread reports Isak wants out and will force the issue. Liverpool are far and away the most likely destination, with Chelsea—the only other plausible Premier League suitors—having taken themselves out of the running.
Adding further fuel to the fire, following today’s flurry of Isak to Liverpool news, there are newly emerging reports that Newcastle are now exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko as a replacement for Isak if he gets the Liverpool move he wants.
Newcastle are dealing with PSR restrictions that would make it difficult to pay Isak the kind of wage he could earn at Liverpool or another top club as one of Europe’s top five strikers—while they could pay him the £300k per week he reportedly wants, the knock-on effects to their wage structure could be disastrous.
Currently, their top earner is Bruno Guimarães on £160k. The Brazilian reportedly has a clause entitling him to salary match the club’s top earner. Other Newcastle stars as well as new signings would also seek more if the club blew up its wage structure to pay Isak.
That is something Newcastle can’t afford. Not without a few more years in the mix near the top of the Premier League and competing in Europe to boost their revenues. A massive sale, for example of one Alexander Isak, could also improve their PSR picture. And Liverpool are ready to pay a British record fee to sign him.
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