Newcastle United face a delicate standoff over Alexander Isak’s future as the striker grows frustrated with stalled contract talks amid determined interest from Liverpool. Newcastle have told potential bidders that their leading scorer is not for sale at any price, yet the Merseyside club were believed to be readying a British‑record offer near £120 million before turning attention toward Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike. That pivot threatens to complicate Newcastle’s own pursuit of the French attacker.
Isak was said to have been promised improved terms under the club’s previous regime, but negotiations were delayed by later decision‑makers who felt his current package about £130,000 per week and secure through 2028 was sufficient. The pause has left the 25‑year‑old and his representatives dissatisfied. Newcastle are now prepared to stretch beyond their informal £150,000‑a‑week wage ceiling and assemble an offer worth more than £10 million annually to underscore his importance.
The Swedish international struck 27 goals last season, driving a campaign that ended the club’s 70‑year wait for a major trophy and clinched Champions League qualification. Protecting that momentum is a priority for head coach Eddie Howe, who would prefer to add Ekitike alongside Isak rather than replace him. Howe twice tried to recruit Ekitike in 2022 before ultimately landing Isak from Real Sociedad in a £63 million deal.
Newcastle have already tested Frankfurt’s resolve with a £70 million proposal for Ekitike that was rejected; the Bundesliga side are thought to be holding closer to the player’s £86 million release clause. The 23‑year‑old moved from Paris Saint‑Germain for roughly £14 million last summer and has since drawn widespread interest. Liverpool entering the race escalates the stakes and fuels suspicion on Tyneside that chasing both Ekitike and Isak may be a tactic to unsettle targets.
Liverpool have opened discussions with Frankfurt over a fee, a step that could hasten decisions on all sides. While Isak has not handed in a transfer request, people around the talks believe the prospect of joining Liverpool appeals to a player entering peak years. For now he remains due to travel with Newcastle for the pre‑season friendly against Celtic in Austria on Saturday. The club’s willingness to break its wage structure reflects both Isak’s status and the financial balancing act imposed by spending rules; committing major funds to Ekitike while upgrading Isak could reshape Newcastle’s entire summer strategy, making the coming days pivotal for their domestic and European ambitions. Season.
