Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak opens talks with Saudi club over £113m move - Aye, right
Welcome back to Alexander Isak Monday, where it seems like literally nothing else is happening in the world of football other than speculation over the future of Newcastle United's star man.
Sent home from Scotland on Saturday by Eddie Howe to protect him from a media circus, speculation over what that means for Isak's future has only got louder and louder ever since. Eddie Howe was in a lose-lose position, really.
While Liverpool has agreed a deal in principle with Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal for Hugo Ekitike, the talks around Isak heading to Anfield aren't going away like we'd hoped they would.
However, the chatter has switched into another gear, and now, reports are coming out about Isak moving to PIF-owned Al-Hilal, with L'Equipe claiming that talks have taken place and Alexander Isak is open to a move with a fee of £113 million mooted.
The Alexander Isak to Saudi Arabia story makes zero sense
As much as we are starting to panic - mildly - about the future of our star man, we have no worries at all about this report, and here's why:
- The story originates from France, a country that is not involved at all with any part of the story. Isak is at Newcastle, England, and the story centres around Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, so why would France get the exclusive?
- £113 million is less than Liverpool allegedly offered and were told to jog on. The starting price to enter negotiations was set at £150 million months ago.
- A PIF-owned club going against the wishes of Yasir Al-Rumayyan seems a bit outlandish after the Newcastle Chairman and Governor of the PIF told the Magpies' board to reject all offers for Isak.
- If a PIF-owned club were given the green light, they would surely over-pay rather than underpay, given the PSR issues around the Premier League.
- Why would Alexander Isak, the best striker in the world right now, want to play in Saudia Arabia at the peak of his powers?
The Saudi report from Isak's 'agent' has been dismissed by Isak's actual representatives
Those are just the obvious points that should be enough to debunk this story. Additionally, Alexander Isak's actual agents have already moved to dismiss the story originating from Saudi Arabia in which one of Isak's representatives had said that they knew Isak's next steps.
"Nobody from his agency have even spoken to the press - their words are completely fabricated."
Anyone fancy a meditation camp? I think we could do with one to enhance our calm.
