Barcelona’s pursuit of Alexander Isak has taken a positive turn, with Spanish reports suggesting that the Newcastle United striker is pushing for a move to Camp Nou this summer.
The 25-year-old’s future at Newcastle seems uncertain, especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season. According to El Nacional, Isak has rejected offers from both Arsenal and Liverpool, instead holding out for a dream transfer to Barcelona, who are reportedly very interested in him.
However, securing the deal may prove difficult. Newcastle is reportedly asking for a fee of at least €180 million for the Swedish forward, which could be a major hurdle for Barcelona, given the club’s well-known financial struggles.
Despite these challenges, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly determined to do everything possible to sign Isak, who is viewed as the ideal long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
Isak has been in excellent form this season, scoring 22 goals and providing five assists in 31 appearances.
Liverpool is also monitoring the situation, seeing Isak as a potential replacement for Darwin Nunez. After his impressive performance against Manchester United in December, Jamie Carragher even praised him on Sky Sports, stating: “He is the best striker in the Premier League right now, and I don’t think it’s even close.”
What has Alexander Isak said about leaving Newcastle United?
In November, Isak was asked about the speculation surrounding his future, and he responded: “Throughout my career, I have never commented on or discussed transfer rumors during the season. There have been many years where this has come up, but it doesn’t affect me. I focus on my situation at Newcastle, and I’ve never had any issues there. I’m fully committed to the task at hand, and I believe we can still have a fantastic season. I’m not thinking about anything else.”
He also addressed claims that his representatives were frustrated with Newcastle due to stalled contract talks. He replied: “I can only say that a lot of information and rumors come out. Much of what I read isn’t true. That’s all I can say on the matter.”
