Newcastle United are fighting to hold on to Alexander Isak as Liverpool prepare an offer for one of the Premier League’s top strikers.
The EPL champions are reportedly preparing a potential bid for the Swedish striker in early July after already smashing the British transfer record with a £116m [$157m] swoop for Florian Wirtz.
However, the Reds are also targeting a world-class No. 9 and the Reds see Isak as the ideal candidate.
The Swede has scored over 20 league goals in each of the last two seasons and the former Real Sociedad attacker is reportedly admired not only at Anfield, but also by Barcelona and Arsenal.
Newcastle are not playing the role of willing sellers and are preparing to break the bank to keep Isak at St. James Park.
Newcastle to offer club record contract
As reported by The Times, to keep Isak at the club, Newcastle are ready to break their own rules via the biggest contract offer in their history.
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According to salary experts Capology, Isak currently earns £120,000 [$163,371] per week. The new deal potentially would move him above the £150,000 [$204,205] mark, over Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon.
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Bruno Guimaraes is the highest-paid player at Newcastle on £160,000 [$217,774] a week and Isak could soon join or surpass him if the 25-year-old agrees a new deal.
Isak’s agent paused contract talks last summer, and the discussions haven’t restarted yet, but Eddie Howe is hopeful of retaining his No.14.
There is no current sign that Isak wants to leave, but Newcastle are concerned by Liverpool’s firm transfer interest, as they look at future options for Darwin Nunez.
Howe wants to build his Newcastle squad around Isak, and there are no current plans to bring in a replacement, with Howe preferring to source a strike partner for his talisman.
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