In March, CEO Darren Eales gave his verdict on selling Newcastle United’s star striker Alexander Isak this summer; he’ll feel a fool now.
Thursday was a rough day for Toon fans. After being left out of Newcastle United’s pre-season tour of Asia, it was revealed that Alexander Isak could move on this summer after serious interest from Liverpool.
The 25-year-old is coming off a brilliant season with Newcastle, scoring 27 goals in all competitions and helping his club win the Carabao Cup, a first piece of silverware since 1969.
However, it all came crashing down after Isak confirmed his desire to leave Newcastle after links with a move to Liverpool. The Reds made an informal enquiry for Isak earlier this summer, which was knocked back immediately, but that small and effortless approach appears to have been more than enough to make the Swede’s head turn.
Isak could soon no longer be a Newcastle player this summer if the right offer comes in, but CEO Darren Eales has already given his verdict on letting the club’s star striker go.
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Darren Eales thinks selling Alexander Isak would be ‘crazy’
Eales has been a great figure at the club, but he will soon be leaving after being diagnosed with blood cancer in 2024. The 52-year-old has been working a very long notice period and has still been a very big part of what PIF are trying to build on Tyneside.
As it stands, no replacement for Eales has been confirmed, but David Hopkinson is the leading candidate for Newcastle.
In March, Eales spoke to press ahead of the Carabao Cup final, where the future of big players like Isak and Bruno Guimaraes came up.
“They’re all under long-term contracts. We have no intention at all of those players being moved on. We’re not under the gun or anything like that,” Eales said.
“As you know, we’ve got an ownership that is ambitious and wants the best for the club. So from that perspective, it would be crazy for us to consider it.”
“He [Isak] has multi years left [on his Newcastle contract] so as with all of these things, we will have the discussions in terms of a new deal just like we did with Joelinton, Bruno [Guimaraes], or Anthony Gordon. That’s something that we will approach in the summer,” Eales added.
“We’re striving, as a club, to be at the top table. We want our best players here.
“I think it shows the value of Isak that they talk about him all the time. We’re not looking to move any player on.”
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Darren Eales could live to regret his Alexander Isak comments
Dan Burn hopes that Isak stays at Newcastle past this summer and everything can quickly be forgotten about. The Swede is well loved on Tyneside, so it is a shame to see how this saga is all playing out in the public eye.
Newcastle fans were shocked at Isak’s transfer call, with many struggling to comprehend why he has chosen to explore his options this summer. The club gave him almost everything he wanted: Champions League football, silverware. He has the chance to become a legend on Tyneside, but instead he is throwing it all away to think about joining another club.
Eales said everything with a lot of confidence in March, it appears he is genuinely convinced Isak will not leave Newcastle this summer, and would only consider letting him leave if an offer they simply could not refuse comes in.
Newcastle need to quash this situation as soon as possible, whether it is a new contract or letting him go for a massive fee, it has to be done quickly.
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