The agent of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has given a major transfer update amid significant summer interest from Liverpool.
The Swedish international has been linked with a departure from St. James’ Park for several months, and rumours of a transfer have intensified in recent weeks. Liverpool have officially contacted Newcastle to inform them of their willingness to make a club-record offer for Isak before the end of the 2025 summer transfer window, as the Reds hope to bring the 25-year-old to Anfield.
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But Newcastle have made it clear that Isak is not for sale, and Liverpool have responded by striking a deal to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for a transfer fee that could reach €95 million including bonuses.
Despite this, Isak continues to be linked with a summer transfer, and Foot Mercato has revealed that he is open to joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal before the 2025/26 season starts, with ongoing talks between Simone Inzaghi’s team and the Swedish star’s representatives.
Isak’s agent, Gonzalo Gaitan, has now made several transfer rumours during an interview with the Saudi website Arriyadiyah.
“We’re actually studying and analysing all options, and we could be close to finalising the next step for the player,” he said (via The Daily Mail).
“Without revealing any details about whether Isak will leave or stay at Newcastle.”
Eddie Howe confirms decision on Alexander Isak
Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has confirmed that he left Isak out of the squad against Celtic on Saturday due to transfer speculation.
After that 4-0 loss, Howe told reporters:
“I chose to send him home. The last thing Alex wants if he’s not playing is to sit in the stands during that kind of attention. Since he wasn’t going to play today, we agreed that he shouldn’t be here.”
“It was my decision. He went back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home because of the speculation surrounding him. Both [Joelinton and Isak] are healthy, but not ready to play. Alex has been training and is doing well, but we didn’t want to take the risk with him.”
Howe added:
“Yes, I’ve had discussions with him, but it’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been very good, he has trained very well and I understand that there will be noise around him.”
“We have some players who are irreplaceable. Your top players are so hard to find, so hard to recruit and so hard to develop. So once you have them, you have to value them. Of course, we are desperate to keep him as part of our team.”
“I think it’s hard for me to ever give 100% clarity if someone is playing, I would never do that. All I can say is that Alex loves Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff and the team.”
“I’ve never had a problem with him and I’m sure he’ll be here at the start of the season.”
Isak, who scored 27 goals in 42 games in all competitions last year, has three years left on his current contract with Newcastle.
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