Where will Alexander Isak end up this summer?

Newcastle United’s star Swedish striker Alexander Isak is at the heart of a protracted transfer saga, with reports emerging that the towering forward is pushing for a move away from Tyneside.

Interest from Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal surfaced earlier in the window, but the Magpies remained adamant that Isak was not for sale. However, the situation appears to have taken a dramatic turn in recent days. Isak has been noticeably absent from Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia and is reportedly training separately from the first team, further fuelling speculation that he has formally submitted a transfer request.

Sources close to the club suggest the 25-year-old has already informed manager Eddie Howe of his desire to leave St James’ Park, casting doubt over his future as the Magpies weigh up whether to stand firm or cash in on one of their prized assets.

Let’s take a look at Isak’s time at Newcastle, the clubs interested in him, and what lies ahead.

Isak at Newcastle

Isak joined Newcastle United in August 2022 from Spanish side Real Sociedad on a six-year deal for a club-record fee of £60 million. He had an injury-ridden first season at the club, only playing 27 games across all competitions, though he still made an impact with ten goals and three assists. The Magpies had a great season and ended up qualifying for the Champions League.

In 2023/24, Isak’s numbers showed a great jump as he registered 25 goals and two assists in 40 games. By the end of the season, the Sweden international had established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe. 

The 2024/25 season proved to be even better, as Isak led Newcastle to Champions League qualification as well as a trophy after a 70-year drought in the League Cup, registering 27 goals and six assists in yet another stellar campaign. 

Suffice it to say, Isak has been influential for the Magpies during his three-year stint, which indicates why Eddie Howe and the Newcastle management are reluctant to part ways with their talismanic forward. 

Potential destinations

Isak has many admirers both in the Premier League and across mainland Europe. The likes of Liverpool and Arsenal are showing interest, while Saudi outfit Al-Hilal, LaLiga giants Barcelona, and reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with the Swedish marksman. 

Here, we look at each of these sides.

Liverpool

The Premier League champions have issues in their front line. With the tragic and untimely demise of Diogo Jota, and Darwin Núñez likely to leave this summer, Isak was initially marked as the first choice for Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.

However, with the Magpies adamant in their stance, the Reds signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a massive transfer fee, though they have remained interested in Isak, especially given his inclination towards an exit this summer.

While it will be difficult to bring in another expensive signing, Luis Díaz’s imminent move to Bayern Munich may persuade Liverpool to make one more big splash in the market this window.

Arsenal

The Gunners faced a lot of issues last season due to injuries to star forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. Mikel Arteta is a long-time admirer of Leipzig forward Benjamin Šeško, but due to the German club placing a huge price tag on the Slovene, Arsenal have signed Sporting striker Viktor Gyökeres instead.

Having already signed one tall Swedish striker, it’s unlikely Arsenal will move for another.

Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal’s new head coach, Simone Inzaghi, is looking to strengthen his attacking line. With their long-time target Victor Osimhen deciding to stay in Türkiye with Galatasaray, the Saudi Pro League heavyweights have been linked with Isak and are willing to offer massive wages.

However, a move here is highly unlikely, as Isak is not going to want to move away from Europe in his prime, especially given the interest from big European clubs and the World Cup on the horizon.

Barcelona

There have been a few links with the Catalan giants as well. With the ageing Robert Lewandowski slowly losing his pace and ability, the Blaugrana are in need of a younger proven marksman to shoulder the responsibility of providing 25+ goals a season.

Although Barça’s financial situation means they won’t be matching Newcastle’s asking price for Isak — not unless they sell some of their key players first, which is unlikely given manager Hansi Flick is looking to strengthen his team for European glory and will not want to lose any of his crucial players.

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG is a possible destination — and a move to the French capital would make sense as well. The reigning Champions League winners have a superb front line of explosive wingers, world-class options in midfield, and a strong defensive line. A striker of Isak’s profile is arguably the only thing they’re lacking.

PSG signed Gonçalo Ramos from Benfica in the summer of 2023, but the Portuguese forward has found life difficult at the Parc des Princes; Luis Enrique has been trusting Ousmane Dembélé over Ramos at centre-forward in his first XI.

Hence, there is an opportunity for PSG to bring in Isak, as they could match Newcastle’s price tag as well as Isak’s wage demands.

Conclusion

Newcastle United are surely facing a major dilemma here. While they haven’t been able to secure any of their transfer targets in João Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo, and Hugo Ekitike, they are now on the cusp of losing their most prized asset.

If the rumours are indeed true, and Isak has informed the club of his desire to move, then the Magpies now have on their hands an unhappy player — which never bodes well for any side. They also need to strengthen their squad if they really want to compete in the Champions League this season.

In my view, it’s never wise to force a player to stay once they’ve set their sights on moving elsewhere. An unhappy player could prove to be a demotivating factor for others and create unrest in the dressing room, ultimately affecting team performances — especially since he has been one of their most important players over the past two seasons.

The best outcome for both Newcastle and Isak here is to part ways. The club should aim to negotiate a substantial transfer fee — somewhere in the region of £120–150 million — and use that money to find a suitable replacement and strengthen other areas of the squad.

This has been an underwhelming transfer window for the Magpies, and they will want to correct that. Ultimately, it all hinges on how Newcastle United navigate this transfer saga — but, truth be told, it’ll be fascinating to see which club Alexander Isak eventually joins.