NEWCASTLE would be better off selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool rather than Al-Hilal despite an inevitable backlash from supporters.
Toon’s star striker has made it clear that he wants to leave St James’ Park this summer despite being offered a new long-term deal worth £300,00 per week.
GettyNewcastle would be better off selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool rather than Al-Hilal[/caption]
Isak was the subject of an enquiry from Liverpool last week before the Reds hijacked Newcastle’s £69million move for Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman became the latest big-money signing at Anfield after the captures of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez for £180m — taking their summer spend up to just shy of £250m.
But despite that eye-watering figure, SunSport revealed how Liverpool can STILL afford to spend a British transfer record fee on Isak.
Arne Slot’s champs would love to shake hands on a £120m deal for the Swede.
And his club are ready to cash in on players like Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez to fund a move, with Luis Diaz also potentially leaving for Bayern Munich.
The thought of selling their star player to a league rival is a sickening one for Newcastle fans.
Should Isak go, they would much prefer to see him head to Saudi Arabian suitors Al-Hilal.
But the Athletic claims it would actually make sense for Isak to head to Liverpool.
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It’s reported that the forward’s transfer, which Toon hope to bank £150m for, would actually cost £250m when wages and agent fees are taking into consideration.
That leaves Liverpool and Al-Hilal as the two most likely candidates for Isak’s signature, with both boasting the necessary finances, low debt and growing cash revenue.
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But only a sale to Liverpool would actually give Newcastle’s books a boost in terms of profitability.
Al-Hilal are owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund — as are Toon.
And Premier League rules dictate that transfers between clubs under the same ownership must have a “fair market value assessment.”
It means that should Prem chiefs deem Isak’s Al-Hilal transfer fee excessive, Newcastle’s PSR profit calculations would have to be lowered despite the figure on their bank balance.
The Magpies are also in the Champions League next season, and Uefa rules are even stricter.
Any transfer between clubs under the same ownership counts as ZERO profit for Financial Fair Play.
And whatever situation Newcastle are in when it comes to European compliancy, that would stay exactly the same despite banking a record fee.
It means Liverpool are the better, and more realistic, club to sell Isak to — with the player himself preferring to stay in England.
But they aren’t the only Prem team who could afford Isak, with Man City and — surprisingly — Man Utd both having room in their PSR budgets.
However, City have put their faith in Erling Haaland on a mega-money long contract, while United’s actual cash for transfers needs topping up after big deals for Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are instead completing a move for fellow Swede Viktor Gyokeres.
And Chelsea already need to sell several stars to comply with Uefa rules ahead of the new Champions League campaign.
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