Newcastle United eye £70m transfer after Alexander Isak talks ‘failed’ | OneFootball

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a move for Benjamin Sesko in the summer transfer window after contract talks with Alexander Isak “failed”.

The Sweden striker’s future is up in the air after he was sent home by manager Eddie Howe ahead of their pre-season friendly against Celtic, which they lost 4-0.

Isak subsequently didn’t join the squad as they flew out to Singapore on Thursday, with Newcastle saying he was left behind to recover from a minor thigh injury, fuelling speculation that he could leave St. James’ Park.

Isak is said to be “exploring his options” after Liverpool made an informal approach for the 25-year-old last week.

Newcastle eye £70m transfer after Isak talks ‘failed’

The Magpies are adamant that their star player is not for sale, valuing him at £150 million, and are eager to tie him down to a new deal. He has three years left to run on his current terms.

It has emerged that contract talks between Newcastle and Isak have taken place this summer to make him the best paid player in the club’s history, with The Times reporting that “negotiations have so far failed”.

Newcastle were “prepared” to pay the forward around £200,000 per week, but he is holding out for £300,000 a week. It seems unlikely the Tyneside outfit will match that figure as it may “create problems” with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules and risk fomenting “dressing-room disharmony”.

Contingency signings are now being looked at in case Isak leaves this summer, with Sky Sports News reporting that Newcastle are “interested” in signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

Newcastle have “explored the conditions of a deal” for the Slovenia striker, who Sky Germany claim would cost just shy of £70m (€80m). He was previously linked with Arsenal before the Gunners decided to pursue a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

Eddie Howe has been left frustrated by the club’s search for a new centre-forward ahead of next season. Newcastle were gazumped by Liverpool in their efforts to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, while Brentford rejected their opening bid for Yoane Wissa.

“My wish was for us to do our business early, we certainly tried but it wasn’t to be,” Howe told the media last week.

“I’ll be open about us missing out on targets to other clubs on several occasions. If a player is not desperate to come, then the transfer doesn’t work. We’re confident we can try and get some more players in to try and strengthen the depth of our squad.”

Newcastle have also been linked with a move for Leipzig attacker Luis Openda.

Read – How Ekitike and Isak compare as Liverpool and Newcastle play transfer chess

See Also – Chelsea stance on Alexander Isak deal clarified

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