Surprise David Ornstein update could shock Alexander Isak deal back to life

Newcastle United made their position on the sale of Alexander Isak expressly clear: the Swede is not for sale this summer.

This comes after the 25-year-old shared an eye-opening update on his socials referencing ‘broken promises’ made by the Magpies’ hierarchy.

Still, the Champions League outfit continues to stand firm on its position that a sale will not be possible without reinforcements. And certainly not without Liverpool meeting their valuation for Isak.

Kai Havertz injury at Arsenal could spur Newcastle into action

Newcastle haven’t exactly had a smooth ride when it comes to the pursuit of offensive reinforcements.

Top targets like Benjamin Sesko, Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo have all gone to rivals, whilst their ongoing pursuit of Yoane Wissa at Brentford is fraught with hurdles.

Now, David Ornstein reports on X (formerly Twitter) that another competitor in Arsenal could be entering the striker market following an injury to Kai Havertz.

The Gunners’ remaining options in the central striking position include the injury-prone Gabriel Jesus and new boy Viktor Gyokeres. The Brazilian, however, has yet to fully recover from his anterior cruciate ligament injury.

That then leaves the likes of the versatile Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino to deputise for the Londoners’ summer signing.

With the likes of Wissa, Ollie Watkins and Nicolas Jackson still available on the market, this should probably be a point of concern for Newcastle. Especially so, given that Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Arsenal are ‘actively exploring the transfer market’ in a bid to plug this gap.

How are Newcastle getting on with striker hunt?

With so much drama unfolding in the summer transfer window, it’s unsurprising to see so many people compare the football transfer market to playing games in an online casino – knowing which players will end up in your starting eleven is a bit like playing roulette.

For those who are curious about how online casinos work off the pitch, platforms such as Casino Buddies provide helpful guides and insights. The site also collects industry news and updates, giving readers a clearer view of how the wider online gaming space is evolving.

Expect the temperature to be amped up in the coming days, with Arsenal potentially set to intrude on Newcastle’s hunt for offensive reinforcements.

It’s yet to be clear whether the Gunners will be keen to take a closer look at any one of Watkins, Wissa or Jackson. Given that the former pair have plenty of Premier League experience, of course, it’s fair to assume that the forwards will at least be on Arsenal’s radar.

Newcastle, for the time being, find themselves in something of a pickle. Having laid down the law over Isak’s price tag to Liverpool, they now find themselves being similarly dictated to by Brentford over their star man’s future.

The Bees are reportedly looking for a fee in excess of £50m. Understandably so, one might add, given that one half of the partnership (Bryan Mbeumo) that had Thomas Frank’s former outfit firing on all cylinders last term has made way to Manchester United.

Newcastle, still playing with some PSR constraints, which is limiting their ability to spend freely in the window, can’t afford to be held to ransom. Especially not whilst sources close to the club continue to reinforce the line that Eddie Howe’s men need two strikers in order to part ways with Isak.

Newcastle may need to switch up to Ollie Watkins or Nicolas Jackson

With Brentford holding firm on Wissa’s valuation and time quickly running out in the summer window, it seems an appropriate time for Newcastle’s recruitment team to cast their gaze elsewhere.

Chelsea, for instance, have been as unequivocally clear as one can be that Nicolas Jackson does not have a future at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have already recruited Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, with head coach Enzo Maresca heavily hinting that Chelsea are more than prepared to consider offers for their Senegalese hitman.

“When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico’s situation,” Maresca was quoted by the BBC.

“At the moment we also had two strikers arrive, Joao [Pedro] and Liam [Delap]. So we will see what happens.”

Aston Villa don’t seem to be pushing Ollie Watkins out of the door with quite the same gumption, but the England international could perhaps be snapped up were the Villans to receive a tempting fee.

Where does this leave Liverpool and Alexander Isak transfer?

With Isak continuing to push for a summer switch to Liverpool and the walls closing in around Newcastle as the market creeps ever closer towards a September 1 finale, the Magpies may yet be spurred into action.

The Magpies aren’t just running out of haggling time, Arsenal’s late arrival in the market now threatens their interest in Wissa, and potentially a second offensive target on the table.

As such, this could yet work out in Liverpool’s favour, should Eddie Howe’s men be encouraged to get some deals over the line with haste.

Join our channel of readers on WhatsApp to get the day’s top stories straight to your mobile