Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has said that star striker Alexander Isak is "not for sale" and that he features heavily in his plans for next season.
The 25-year-old has established himself as one of Europe's most prolific strikers and has become a fans' favourite at St James' Park since joining the Magpies from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m in August 2022.
Isak has found the net 61 times in 106 appearances for Newcastle across all competitions, and earlier this year became the seventh-fastest player in Premier League history to score 50 goals in the division, doing so after 76 games.
The Sweden international has scored 22 top-flight goals in 31 matches this term, only bettered by Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (28), while he also made the net ripple in Newcastle's historic 2-1 triumph over the Reds in the EFL Cup final.
Isak's impressive form in front of goal has increased speculation about his future on Tyneside amid reported interest from a host of top European clubs, including Premier League duo Arsenal and Liverpool.
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"Isak is not for sale", says Howe
Former Premier League striker Jermain Defoe has told Sports Mole that Arsenal should do everything they can to bring Isak to the Emirates Stadium this summer, with the Gunners known to be in the market for a new centre-forward.
Liverpool are also expected to bolster their attacking options ahead of next season in a bid to retain their Premier League title, with Isak thought to have been identified as a possible upgrade on Darwin Nunez.
However, Howe is determined to retain the services of Isak and build the team around the Swede, who is believed to be valued by Newcastle in excess of £100m.
Discussing the future of Isak at a press conference on Friday ahead of Newcastle's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, Howe said: "[Isak is] not for sale from my perspective.
"I want to build a squad, I want the strongest squad possible for next season. There's a lot to look forward to, hopefully. The end of the season is going to be crucial for us.
"We have a strong squad and if we can add some players for the first time in a few windows, that will make a massive difference for us so that's what I'm focused on, not the other way around."
Howe's plea to keep hold of Isak is set to be backed by Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who has allegedly told the club's hierarchy to resist any offers for his 'favourite player' this summer.
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Howe urges Newcastle to be ruthless in summer transfer window
Howe has confirmed that work is always going on behind the scenes on transfers and the Magpies boss has urged the club to be ruthless in the upcoming market, as their Premier League rivals attempt to comply with spending rules.
The Magpies reluctantly sold Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton last summer in order to comply with Profitability and Sustainability Rules, but the club is now in a significantly stronger position ahead of the June 30 deadline.
"Even though we haven't signed a lot of players in the last few windows, the work has never stopped and it will never stop," said Howe. "That goes on behind the scenes relentlessly.
"I take more prominence towards the windows opening so I'm doing a lot of work at the moment."
He added: "The PSR deadline plays a huge role for clubs - both those clubs with PSR issues and those without - because those without may potentially look to try to sign players. They will look to take advantage of other clubs, as clubs did to us last year, quite rightly.
"It's a really interesting dynamic and one that we're really aware of and that we'll try to use to our advantage if we can. I can't go into the details of that, but no doubt we've got people at the club who are working very hard behind the scenes on it."
Newcastle's transfer activity may depend on whether they qualify for next season's Champions League, with Howe's side currently sitting third in the Premier League table and two points ahead of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest in fifth and sixth respectively.
Oliver Thomas
