Alexander Isak wants £300,000-a-week to sign a new contract at Newcastle, talkSPORT understands.
Eddie Howe and the Toon owners are determined not to lose the in-demand striker this summer, but a deal of that magnitude would smash the club’s pay structure.
If the Magpies do manage to keep hold of Isak this summer amid strong interest from Liverpool and clubs in Saudi Arabia, they would find themselves in a much trickier situation next summer should he not sign an extension at St James’ Park.
Isak is under contract at Newcastle until June 2028, having penned a six-year deal with the Tyneside outfit from Real Sociedad for £63million in 2022.
Liverpool have made an approach to Newcastle about the striker, notifying the club they are ready to swoop with a big-money bid should the Toon change their ‘not for sale’ stance.
The 25-year-old was not present for the Magpies’ recent friendly defeat to Celtic after being told by Howe to return home due to the ongoing speculation over his future.
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But his omission is likely to be a short-lived one with the Swede set to join his teammates in the Far East later this week ahead of the Magpies’ pre-season tour.
Howe confirmed that it would be business as usual in a hint that the club will resist all offers for their star striker.
“Yes, absolutely. He’s part of our squad,” Howe told BBC Radio Newcastle. “At this moment in time, I expect him to come.
“I’d never give a guarantee about anybody [staying] because I’ve been in football long enough to know I could end up looking silly. But, the desire from everybody to keep him is as strong as it could be. Fingers crossed that will happen for us.
“We love him as a player and a person and want him to stay – and that is right through the club. He’s an outstanding talent and a player we cherish.
“I think for any player speculation’s not an easy thing to deal with, and not an easy thing to understand, when you’re fielding calls and messages from players and people asking you all sorts.
“The media now is so strong and the media message goes far and wide. I don’t think it’s easy for any player to be under that scrutiny and that’s part – 10 per cent – of the reason why he wasn’t here today. I just want him to focus on himself and his training and being ready for next week.”
Howe admitted it was his decision to leave Isak out of Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Celtic amid the ongoing speculation over his future.
“It was purely the last thing Alex wants if he’s not playing is to be sat in the stand,” Howe said after the match.
“Being under that scrutiny, I don’t think that’s fair to the player. If he wasn’t going to play today, which we agreed, mutually agreed that he needs a little bit more training time, then it’s best he’s not here. I chose to send him home.
“The last thing Alex wants if he is not playing is to be sat in the stand and under that scrutiny, then if he wasn’t going to play today, we mutually agreed he shouldn’t be here.
“It was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. Both [Joelinton and Isak] are fit but not ready to play. Alex has trained and is fine but we didn’t want to take the risk with him.”
The Magpies step up their pre-season preparations this weekend beginning with a clash against Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday.
They then travel to South Korea to take on a K-League XI before facing Europa League winners Tottenham in Seoul.
Fixtures against La Liga duo Espanyol and Atletico Madrid follow before Howe’s side kick off the new Premier League season with a trip to Aston Villa on August 16.