Reports suggest that Newcastle United is open to offloading Alexander Isak to FC Barcelona in a surprising swap deal.
Isak has been in outstanding form this season, solidifying his status as one of the world’s top strikers. The Swedish forward has netted 19 goals and provided five assists in 27 appearances for Newcastle.
His performances have caught the attention of several elite clubs across Europe and the Premier League, though Newcastle remains eager to retain him.
During last summer’s transfer window, Newcastle faced financial concerns related to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules. To maintain financial stability, they opted to sell players like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh instead of Isak, allowing them to keep their star striker while also placing a high valuation on him amid interest from Arsenal.
According to journalist David Ornstein, Isak is at the top of Arsenal’s transfer wishlist. Ornstein revealed that Mikel Arteta sees Isak as the ideal striker for his system, making him a primary target should Arsenal decide to reinforce their attacking options.
However, he also acknowledged Newcastle’s strong stance on keeping Isak, with the club hoping to extend his contract beyond 2028.
“There’s no doubt that Isak is Arteta’s preferred choice,” Ornstein stated. “He perfectly fits Arsenal’s playing style. But Newcastle fans won’t like hearing that, as they have him under contract for a few more years. Whether Arsenal can secure his signing is uncertain, and Newcastle is determined to keep him by offering a new deal.”
Despite this, a Spanish report claims Newcastle is open to negotiating with Barcelona for a potential swap deal. Barcelona is actively seeking attacking reinforcements, and Isak is among their preferred targets.
However, Newcastle values Isak at €150 million and is reportedly firm in their stance: they will only consider negotiations if Barcelona includes Brazilian winger Raphinha in the deal.
Newcastle has long admired Raphinha and has pursued him for the past couple of years. The £83 million-rated winger has been in impressive form, tallying 23 goals and 15 assists in 34 appearances this season.
While Isak is reportedly open to the idea of playing for Barcelona, the deal faces significant obstacles. Barcelona is reluctant to part ways with Raphinha, and the player himself is not keen on leaving. This complicates any potential agreement, making a swap deal between the two clubs unlikely at this stage.
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