Newcastle target £70m Sesko but insist Alexander Isak is not for sale

Times

2 days ago

Newcastle United remain adamant that Alexander Isak is not for sale, despite a breakdown in talks about a new contract and the player's desire to explore possible moves.
Senior Newcastle officials are steadfast in their position and maintain that they have not received a bid for the Sweden forward, now the subject of strong interest from the Premier League champions, Liverpool.
Newcastle, eager to strengthen and not weaken their squad before a return to the Champions League, are targeting the RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, although it is unclear if they will meet the £70million asking price before the Isak situation is resolved.
Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe this season and are thought to be open to a sale. Newcastle have scouted the 22-year-old Slovenia player extensively, with great reports.
Newcastle's players have arrived in Singapore, where they will play friendly matches against Arsenal, a K-League XI and Tottenham Hotspur, without the 25-year-old Isak, who has not travelled.
Liverpool have privately insisted they will make a move for a forward who scored 27 goals last season only if they are given encouragement by Newcastle. That was certainly not forthcoming on Friday, with Newcastle digging in their heels to repeat the message, from the very top of the club, that the player is not for sale.
Contract talks about improving the six-year deal Isak signed when he joined Newcastle for £63million in the summer of 2022 were always planned for this summer. Only then could Newcastle, free of the headlock of the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules, emphatically break their own pay structure, very much on the understanding that Isak deserved that special status and that a substantial pay rise would not unsettle the dressing room.
So far that has not been able to tempt Isak or his agent, Vlado Lemic, to extend or improve his contract at St James' Park. The player is holding out for the £300,000-a-week wages he believes he could get at Anfield.
The reason given for Isak missing the club's pre-season tour to Asia (a thigh injury) was criticised by Alan Shearer. The Swede had also returned home last weekend instead of being part of Newcastle's squad at Celtic Park and was then pictured training on his own on Monday. A scan on his thigh came back clear.
Liverpool have already made one call to Newcastle to inquire about the availability of Isak and were told emphatically that the forward is not for sale. That was 11 days ago but it has so far not deterred them.
Newcastle, who have missed out on João Pedro and Hugo Ekitike, faced further frustration when James Trafford, a player they have chased for 12 months and for whom they submitted a £27million bid, joined Manchester City on Friday.
Eddie Howe, the Newcastle head coach, has admitted this is becoming an extremely difficult transfer window.
Newcastle are also yet to return with an improved bid for the Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, having had a £25million offer turned down during the week. Their only summer recruit so far has been Anthony Elanga, signed from Nottingham Forest for £55million.
Newcastle are close to announcing the appointment of David Hopkinson as chief executive and Ross Wilson as sporting director.