Newcastle reportedly closing in on deal for £63m forward after record-breaking season

The summer isn’t all just about who Newcastle United can get to join their ranks ahead of the new season with a few issues within the club to be resolved too.

Speculation has been rife over the future of £63million record signing Alexander Isak with a move to Arsenal being mooted several times over recent weeks.

Newcastle United have made their stance on this, as well as the future of Bruno Guimaraes very clear – they are not for sale – but that’s not stopped the speculation train from rolling.

So intent are the Magpies to keep Isak at St James’ Park that talks are reportedly underway over a new contract despite his current deal running until 2028.

Isak has a reduced pay clause in his contract when Newcastle don’t qualify for Champions League

It’s believed that Isak’s current deal contains a clause whereby he must take a 20% pay cut in seasons in which Newcastle aren’t competing in the Champions League, which of course, Newcastle will not be in the upcoming season.

The fear is that the 20% cut may allow Isak’s head to be turned this summer. Isak probably never expected to actually hit the Champions League pay bump so soon, but once you’ve had something, it’s hard to see it taken away.

HITC are now saying that talks are progressing over a new deal, however, and we imagine that clause will be scrapped as a gesture to show him how much the club values him.

The club are doing everything to keep Alexander Isak at Newcastle

Newcastle will be hoping to have the new deal all wrapped up and signed ahead of the new season, but even the fact that the talks are ongoing should be warning enough to potential suitors that they’ve got no chance.

Alexander Isak broke Zalatan Ibrahimovic’s record of most goals scored by a Swedish player in a Premier League season during the last campaign which is remarkable given how many games he missed through injury.

If we can get a full season out of Isak there’s no telling the amount of goal contributions he could muster. We have to keep him at all costs as there are no other players like him in the Premier League.