How much Newcastle can afford to pay their highest earner under PSR, it could harm Alexander Isak talks

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The Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules continue to ruin Newcastle United’s plans.

Newcastle United suffered an underwhelming summer transfer window due to the restrictions that PSR put on the club’s budget.

Eddie Howe made the difficult decision to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh in June as Newcastle were otherwise at risk of facing a points deduction.

There is a growing expectation for Newcastle to invest in the January transfer window after missing out on several top targets in the summer. But, once again, the Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules could shackle the club’s spending.

Howe has warned that Newcastle may have to sell to avoid a PSR breach, and it is also set to impact the club’s contract talks.

How much Newcastle can pay the club’s highest-earner

Newcastle did well to keep hold of their star players over the summer and attention has now turned to agreeing new deals to keep them at St James’ Park.

Anthony Gordon signed a long-term deal to end speculation that Liverpool wanted to sign him and Newcastle then turned their attention to discussing a new deal with Isak.

A new contract for Sean Longstaff is also a “priority” with the midfielder entering the final year of his current deal.

However, according to The Athletic, there is a wage ceiling that Newcastle cannot afford to break through due to PSR risks.

Journalist Chris Waugh wrote: “Alexander Isak, however, will still have three years left on his deal at the end of this season and he is already one of Newcastle’s best-paid players.

“Again, those dreaded three letters, PSR, come into play, because wages are a constant in that calculation and, given their present revenues, Newcastle cannot afford to raise their wage ceiling for top earners beyond the bracket of somewhere between £100,000 to £150,000 a week, as it is believed to stand at the moment.”

If Newcastle cannot afford to pay players more than £150,000 per week, that is bound to impact transfers as well as contract negotiations.

Alexander Isak wants to be Newcastle’s top earner

Newcastle would love to tie Isak down to a new bumper contract to end rumours of him leaving St James’ Park in the near future, but there are some boxes he wants ticked.

It has been reported that Isak wants a release clause in his contract. Bruno Guimaraes has a similar clause in his current deal which Manchester City considered triggering over the summer.

Isak wants to be Newcastle’s top earner if he commits to a new long-term deal – he is currently on £120,000 per week so a pay rise threatens to break the club’s wage structure.

READ MORE: Newcastle have ‘this generation’s Thierry Henry’ as Alexander Isak compared to two other legends

Before giving into his demands, Newcastle chiefs have set Isak a challenge to prove this season that he deserves to be the top earner at the club.

Talks between Newcastle and Isak over a new deal are expected to resume at the end of the season.