Door is closed’ – Newcastle star Alexander Isak’s transfer to Liverpool is off

Door is closed’ – Newcastle star Alexander Isak’s transfer to

Alexander Isak will not join Liverpool this summer but that does not guarantee he will remain at Newcastle.

That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who exclusively told Football Insider that Paul Mitchell’s exit from St. James’ Park could be a key factor in the Swedish striker’s decision-making.

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Isak had been keen to sign a new contract with Newcastle last summer, but the club’s former sporting director decided against offering a new deal.

The Magpies were in a precarious situation with the Premier League‘s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), and ultimately had to swap Elliot Anderson for Odysseas Vlachodimos to avoid a sanction.

Isak still had three years remaining on his deal at the time, but the decision to snub the star man irked the 25-year-old’s agent, and there remains a level of “acrimony” between the striker’s representative and the club, according to The Telegraph.

The situation has been worsened by Newcastle’s awful transfer window, which has seen them miss out on numerous key transfer targets to bolster the level of talent around the ex-Real Sociedad man.

Paul Mitchell left Newcastle after less than a year at the club.

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Newcastle to offer Alexander Isak new deal

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley, a senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, explained that following Hugo Ekitike’s move to Liverpool, Isak’s transfer to Anfield is likely off.

The finance expert also suggested that Mitchell’s exit may prove pivotal to the striker’s decision on whether or not to sign a new contract when Newcastle offer one.

Plumley said: “I think that the fact that he’s not on the preseason tour will no doubt spark the rumour mill into life again.

“I guess it’s a question of, where else does he go now? With Liverpool, that door is closed, where else does he go is one question.

“What happened with him over the last couple of years was very much linked to their PSR position, and of course, Paul Mitchell’s not in that role anymore, so there’s a little bit of water under the bridge. That might be reversible from the club side of things.

“They’ve said they will offer him a new contract when the time’s right, which probably means when we’ve got our house in order and know where we’re at and get out of the woods a little bit.

Alexander Isak’s stats in the 2024/25 season

“That’ll probably make him the highest earner at the club. There’s plenty of reasons for the club to want to keep him.

“They’re in the Champions League, and as a player at that kind of level, you want to be in the Champions League.

“Ultimately, the player will have his own views on this as always, he might stay at Newcastle, things will be okay and there’ll be a new deal to be signed.

“The bigger question is with the rumours that are doing the rounds it at the minute, if the Liverpool deal’s not gonna happen because they’ve signed somebody else, where else does he go?

“I think that’s the question at this point in time.”

Ollie Watkins has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa. (Credit: Imago)

Newcastle to target Ollie Watkins

It has been lost in the chaos of Isak‘s transfer saga, but the Magpies are keen on adding another strong striker option to play alongside the Sweden international, should he stay in the North East.

Ekitike and Yoane Wissa were both targets, but the Frenchman has joined Liverpool, and the Brentford striker looks no closer to a move to Tyneside.

Instead, Newcastle may target Ollie Watkins this summer, Mick Brown told Football Insider exclusively.

The England international has been heavily linked with an exit from Aston Villa this summer, and may be available for a reasonable price.