La Liga would need to clear any financial move first.
Newcastle United are increasingly confident that Alexander Isak will remain at the club next season, with growing belief across transfer circles that the Swedish striker is not for sale.
According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, “there is a growing expectation in transfer circles that Alexander Isak will remain at the club next season,” a view supported by the behaviour of potential Newcastle targets.
One such example is Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who, Hope reports, “would be slim [chance to join Newcastle]—because the player’s camp believe Isak is staying.”
Delap, expected to be available for £30 million if Ipswich are relegated, wants a club where he can be the first-choice forward.
“Manchester United are interested and could offer that promise of game-time,” Hope noted.
Despite previous links to top clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool, Newcastle “are determined to keep Isak,” Hope wrote, and “with the word in the game being of no viable buyer at a fee that would likely approach £150m,” agents and club insiders anticipate the Swede will remain on Tyneside.
Barcelona were among the clubs keeping tabs, watching Isak during Newcastle’s match at West Ham recently. But financial limitations have now emerged as a barrier.
“It was announced by La Liga chiefs last week that the Catalan club have failed the league’s financial fair play rules,” Hope reported, “casting fresh doubt on future spending.”
Newcastle, meanwhile, are hopeful that Champions League qualification can “give Isak the platform he wants and allow them to discuss fresh terms on his contract at the end of the season.”
Isak has three years left on his current deal.