Following the undeniable bombshell that Alexander Isak has asked to leave the club, Newcastle United and PIF have reportedly set their sights on a talented replacement.
When news emerged that he was suffering from a thigh injury and he would, therefore, not travel to take part in Newcastle’s Asia tour, it became clear that trouble may be afoot. And soon enough, reports came to the fore that Isak has, indeed, asked to leave St James’ Park this summer amid interest from Saudi Arabia and Liverpool.
It would have been Newcastle’s biggest fear heading into this summer, but that fear would have only increased by their own transfer failure. The last thing that Eddie Howe needs after watching the Magpies miss out on Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo is for Isak to depart, but that may be the reality that he is forced to live with next season.
There is still one positive in this saga for Newcastle, though. As frustrating as losing Isak would be, his exit would instantly solve any remaining PSR problems for the foreseeable future and allow PIF to flex their financial muscles in full.
According to The Athletic, the final package to sign Isak could cost as much as £250m, with Newcastle demanding a transfer fee worth as much as £150m before agent fees and wages are taken into account.
With a chunk of that money, the Magpies could welcome an instant replacement and then finally splash the cash to improve other areas in Howe’s squad.
PIF set sights on Lois Openda
Turning towards an Isak replacement before anything, those at St James’ Park are now reportedly ‘targeting’ a Bundesliga talent. According to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, PIF have now set their sights on signing Lois Openda for Newcastle this summer as they look to find the heir to Isak’s Tyneside throne.
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The RB Leipzig forward, now at the peak of his powers at 25 years old, is not the out-and-out goalscorer that Isak is, but he is a better creator and could provide Howe with a better all-rounder than the Swede.
After impressing in the 2023/24 campaign, Openda picked up where he left off last season and ended the campaign with 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions. Described as a “fantastic young striker” by scout Jacek Kulig whilst in Germany, the Belgian could now get the chance to make the biggest move of his career so far.
