There are many key points to clarify regarding Isak's situation. First, yes, the club will offer him the No.9 shirt vacated by Callum Wilson. However, it remains uncertain whether he will accept it.
Isak has an easygoing personality and doesn’t attach much importance to such symbols. It’s fair to say he won’t knock on the manager’s door over a shirt number. That said, the club is keen for their top scorer to wear this iconic number in the new season.
Of course, all this depends on whether Isak stays at St. James’ Park. Is it likely? Yes. Is it certain? No. I know this isn’t what fans want to hear, but Isak’s situation is somewhat complex.
Initial contract talks took place in spring 2024, with plans to recognize Isak’s value and ability through a pay rise. However, these talks were put on hold after changes in the club’s management structure and personnel last summer.
Sporting director Paul Mitchell’s view at the time was: Isak still has four years left on his contract, and his salary is already quite generous. Within the framework of PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules), this was a sensible business stance.
Yet this did not fully consider the player’s feelings. Isak believes he deserves a new contract, but his salary has remained unchanged over the past 12 months. Is it generous? Yes. But is it lower than what he could earn elsewhere? Absolutely.
Outgoing CEO Darren Eales stated earlier this year that contract talks with Isak would resume after the season. To my knowledge, no significant progress has been made in this regard so far, and things have been very quiet.
Does Isak want a new contract? We don’t know. He isn’t "unhappy" at Newcastle. He loves his teammates, coach, fans, and the city.
But he is 25 years old, his salary is below his market value, and frankly, the club he plays for is not a title contender in the Premier League or Champions League this season. Isak knows he has the ability to compete for these trophies, and given he will turn 26 in September, it’s understandable if he wants to achieve this goal now.
Liverpool’s interest is genuine, but they need to raise funds to complete this extremely expensive deal – a British record transfer fee of at least £150 million.
