Craig Hope Shares Fresh Newcastle Update on Alexander Isak Amid Transfer Saga
The uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak’s future has been the defining storyline of Newcastle United’s summer. Instead of entering the new campaign with optimism, the club has been engulfed in speculation, frustrated transfer pursuits, and an underwhelming pre-season.
Eddie Howe’s squad has endured a striker crisis throughout the summer, failing to secure a win in pre-season matches while operating without a reliable centre-forward. Newcastle had targeted several attacking reinforcements, including Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, Liam Delap, and Pedro, but each opted to join one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’, leaving Howe’s options painfully thin.
For the manager, his players, and the fanbase, the past few months have felt exhausting. With so much energy consumed by rumours and failed negotiations, supporters are desperate for clarity. The general feeling is that the closure of the transfer window on September 1st cannot come soon enough.
Newcastle Send Firm Message on Isak’s Future
Amid all the speculation, Newcastle’s hierarchy appear to have drawn a line in the sand. According to The Mail’s Craig Hope, the Magpies have delivered a clear message: Alexander Isak is not for sale and will remain on Tyneside this season.
Liverpool have been strongly linked and could yet test Newcastle’s resolve during the final week of the window. However, sources suggest that PIF, the club’s ownership group, were left angered by both Isak’s recent comments and the conduct of his representatives. The tone of his Instagram post before the PFA awards is believed to have further soured relations, hardening Newcastle’s resistance to a potential sale.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Hope elaborated:
“As the club statement said on Tuesday night, the conditions of sale haven’t been met. Newcastle are not going to leave themselves short by allowing Isak to go, especially when he is currently the only recognised striker in the squad. My information is—and this position really strengthened on Tuesday night, following the statement and its accusatory nature—is that Alexander Isak is going nowhere.”
The Final Week of the Transfer Window
The implications of Newcastle’s stance are significant. Had Isak been sold, the Magpies would have needed to recruit at least two new forwards, as no single target available this summer could realistically replace the Swede’s goalscoring threat. The club have monitored Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen in recent weeks, but both selling clubs remain reluctant to do business this late in the window.
Even with Isak staying, Newcastle still face an urgent need to strengthen their attack. The departure of Callum Wilson has left Howe with a glaring shortage of depth up front, and the manager is keen to add at least one more forward before the deadline.
Looking Ahead
The Magpies face Liverpool on Monday night in what promises to be a pivotal fixture, not only in terms of league positioning but also in shaping the narrative of the final transfer days. By then, less than a week will remain in the summer window.
It would likely take an extraordinary offer—well above £150 million—for Newcastle to even consider parting with Isak before September 1st. Given the timing, any such deal would also require the near-impossible task of landing two strikers immediately.
For now, though, the message from St. James’ Park is clear: Alexander Isak is going nowhere, and Newcastle’s focus must now turn to adding depth rather than replacing their star striker.