Newcastle have reportedly made up their mind on Alexander Isak and delivered a verdict to suitors Arsenal.
Isak was exhilarating to watch last season and hit the net 25 times as Newcastle competed in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
His goalscoring feats – bettered only by Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the Premier League – had clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal salivating.
Newcastle demanded in excess of £115million for the Swede when Chelsea came calling in January, having paid Real Sociedad £63m for him in 2022.
And now they have reportedly gone a step further and slammed the door in Arsenal’s face, as per The Independent.
Newcastle have reportedly told Arsenal that Alexander Isak is not for sale this summer
Isak scored 25 goals last season and said this summer that he has no intention of leaving
Mikel Arteta must update his shopping list after being told in no uncertain terms that Isak is off the shelves.
There were fears Newcastle would have to sell the 24-year-old to comply with financial regulations but the sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh around June 30’s ‘mini deadline day’ saw them through.
The Independent claims that Arsenal are now looking for more of a wide forward who can drop inside as opposed to a traditional number nine.
Arsenal’s interest in Ivan Toney appears to have cooled along with other clubs despite Brentford reportedly slashing his asking price to under £50m.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko signed a one-year contract extension until 2019 in June, with Chelsea, Manchester United, and the Gunners having been keen on the 21-year-old Slovenian.
Earlier this summer, Isak insisted he had ‘no thoughts’ about leaving Tyneside.
‘I am enjoying myself at Newcastle, and I had the best season in my career,’ he told Swedish outlet Fotballskanalen.
‘I love everything about the club; the fans, and the city.
Mikel Arteta will reassess his options with Arsenal’s interest in Ivan Toney cooling while RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has renewed his deal in Germany
‘It (my future) is not something I will speculate about, I have no thoughts on leaving. There has been no talk about it at the club and I have received no information that the club would have to sell me.’
Back in the January window of 2022, Arsenal registered significant interest in Isak while he was at Sociedad but failed to reach an agreement with the Spanish club.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was in April adamant they have no intention to sell Isak, who is the club’s record signing at £63million.
‘He’s an outstanding talent and no one connected with Newcastle would want to lose him,’ said the head coach.
Newcastle are on a pre-season tour in Japan and Isak netted in their 4-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday.
Today they play Yokohama F. Marinos, who reached the Asian Champions League final last season under Harry Kewell before he was sacked in July.
