The summer transfer window is shaping up to be a thrilling ride, with top clubs vying for the signatures of the world’s best players. One such player is Newcastle‘s prolific striker, Alexander Isak, who has been making waves with his impressive goal-scoring record and has impressed Gary Neville.
The 25-year-old Swedish international has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season, making him a hot commodity in the transfer market.
Gary Neville, the former Manchester United defender, believes that his old club should be in the mix to sign Isak if he leaves Newcastle this summer. Neville’s comments came during a discussion with Jamie Carragher, who was asked about Isak’s potential next destination. Neville interrupted, saying: “United.” He went on to add:
“They are going to struggle to keep hold of Isak, he is going to want to play somewhere else unfortunately it’s the nature of the beast,” Neville told It’s Called Soccer. “They will lose those players unfortunately. The reality is Newcastle are a great football club and we didn’t see that any more as we did on Sunday (at the Carabao Cup final).”
“But they will want to play for the Real Madrids, Liverpools, Manchester Uniteds and Bayern Munichs of this world, it’s just natural that these players will want to play at those clubs at some point, if they can.”
However, Carragher dismissed Neville’s suggestion that 13th-placed United would be in the frame for Isak’s signature, saying Arsenal and Liverpool are the only options for Isak in the Premier League.
“100 per cent I think Isak stays if they qualify for the Champions League, I don’t think they let him go anyway,” Carragher said. “The problem they do have is if they don’t qualify. It doesn’t really matter what happened in the cup final.”
“I think the only two options at the moment would be Arsenal and Liverpool as they’re both sort of crying out for a striker.”
Carragher also weighed in on the potential implications of Newcastle’s Champions League qualification on Isak’s future:
“I just look at how long he’s got left on his deal and the ball is in Newcastle’s court, it’s not really in Isak’s. I think once you get [down] to two years [on the contract], it’s almost a 50-50, no-one wants to allow a player to get down to 12 months.”
“Newcastle could keep him for another year and say, ‘we’ll see you then as we’re going to get the same sort of money’. I don’t think Newcastle gain anything by selling him now, unless that they have to.”
“And that is why, if Newcastle get into the Champions League, there’s no way Isak is leaving the club. Even if he wants to. I think the club will say: ‘No, do another 12 months and in a year’s time we can make a few quid and you can move on’.”