Eddie Howe shares Alexander Isak transfer update amid Liverpool links as ‘crystal ball’ claim made

Latest Liverpool transfer news with an update on Alexander Isak’s Newcastle United future

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has revealed that Alexander Isak is ‘not for sale’ and said he features in his side’s plans for next season. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific strikers and has become a fans’ favourite at the Magpies since his club record £63million move from Real Sociedad in 2022.

The Sweden international has scored 61 times in 106 matches for Newcastle across all competitions. Only Mohamed Salah (28) has plundered more goals in the Premier League this season than Isak, who has 22 to his name from 31 appearances.

He also found the net in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in March, scoring Newcastle’s second goal as they ran out 2-1 winners at Wembley.

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Watch the pick of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak's Premier League goals from this season including a stunner at home to Liverpool.

Arne Slot has previously confirmed Liverpool are in the market for a number nine this summer with Darwin Nunez having attracted interest from Saudi Arabia in January.

But the Magpies are desperate to retain Isak’s services beyond the summer and Newcastle head coach Howe issued an update on the forward’s future in a press conference on Friday.

When asked about whether Isak was ‘for sale’ at Newcastle this summer, he responded: “He’s not for sale from my perspective.

“I want to build a squad and I want the strongest squad possible for next season. There is a lot to look forward to here, hopefully.

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“The end of the season is crucial for us. I think we have a strong squad and if we can add players for the first time in a few windows, that will make a massive, massive difference for us.

“That’s what I’m focusing on, not the other way around. We want to keep our best players. I think I’ve made that very clear. That’s not just the wish from me, that’s the wish from everyone at the club.

“I don’t have a crystal ball. I can’t sit here and say what’s going to happen. I can only say what my determination is and it is to build a team, the best team possible and to do that you can’t consistently lose your best players.”

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak message to Arsenal and Liverpool

EDDIE HOWE has reiterated his determination to keep Alexander Isak at Newcastle United this summer despite the ongoing speculation surrounding the striker’s future.

Isak has enjoyed a hugely successful season with the Magpies, with his 22 league goals leaving him in second position on the Premier League goalscoring charts behind Mo Salah.

Liverpool want striker Alexander Isak - will offer Newcastle a well-known player in exchange - Telegraph - Telegraph

The Sweden international has established himself as one of the most highly-rated forwards in world football, resulting in a flurry of transfer talk linking him with a possible move away from Tyneside this summer.

The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona have all been linked with the 25-year-old, who is contracted to Newcastle until the summer of 2028.

The Newcastle hierarchy are willing to enter into talks about a potential new deal, with Howe adamant the club cannot afford to lose Isak if they want to continue progressing in the next few years.

“He’s (Isak) not for sale from my perspective,” said the Newcastle boss. “I want to build a squad, and I want the strongest squad possible for next season.

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“There is a lot to look forward to here, hopefully. The end of the season is crucial for us. I think we have a strong squad and if we can add players for the first time in a few windows, that will make a massive, massive difference for us. That’s what I’m focusing on, not the other way around.”

Isak has not looked at his sharpest in the last few games, and while he successfully converted a penalty to open the scoring in last weekend’s win over Ipswich, he is still working his way back to his peak levels after suffering from a niggling groin problem for most of last month.

Liverpool 'growing in confidence' over Alexander Isak as Newcastle fee 'comes to light' | Football | Sport | Express.co.uk

“He’s still scoring important goals for us and that’s never lost on me,” said Howe. “None more so than the penalty last week. You would probably be expected to score a penalty, but that was a key moment in the game, 0-0 against Ipswich when we needed him to be really cool, do his job and score the goal. Which he did.

“I’d say we haven’t found a way to get him involved in the game as much, certainly against Ipswich we didn’t. Second half, he came alive to a degree, but I think there is more to come from Alex than he has shown in recent weeks.

“But we are working towards that. You have to be mindful he has had a couple of little niggles in his groin and that limited his ability to train. He has trained fine this week and has looked good. He is a difference maker and we need him at 100 per cent.”