Jamie Carragher has his sights set on a potential tussle between Liverpool and Arsenal for Alexander Isak’s signature should the Newcastle United star opt for a summer exit. The Reds icon is of the opinion that the Carabao Cup champions could have the upper hand, especially if they secure a spot in the Champions League.
Isak has been a revelation for Eddie Howe’s squad this season, netting 19 goals in the Premier League, with only Mohamed Salah (24) and Erling Haaland (20) scoring more. The Swedish forward’s tally stands at 23 across all competitions, which includes a goal against Arne Slot’s team in Sunday’s showdown at Wembley.
With the Magpies perched at sixth in the league, just a point shy of Manchester City and with a game in hand that could see them overtake Pep Guardiola’s crew, Champions League football is within reach. Should they clinch it, Carragher believes Newcastle will be in a strong position to keep hold of Isak come summer, although he anticipates both Arsenal and Liverpool will be monitoring the situation closely.
“The only one I think is Isak who the real elite would be looking at,” Carragher expressed on the It’s Called Soccer podcast. “With Isak, he is so much better than a lot of strikers that Liverpool or Arsenal have got, you know, teams who are competing for the Premier League.
“So he is the one people would look at. I was just thinking about his situation and I think it makes it easier for them to keep him. There’s a feel-good factor, he’ll be seeing those scenes at the end of the game: the hugs, the night out after it, lifting silverware.
“It could easily be case of [saying] ‘let’s give this another 12 months.’ One hundred percent I think Isak stays if they qualify for the Champions League because I don’t think they club would sell him anyway. And they’d just say they are in the Champions League so they wouldn’t need to sell him, money-wise.
“The problem they could have is if they don’t make the Champions League then really it is not about what happened in the cup final. Then it is: Do the club need to sell?
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“The only two options would be Arsenal and Liverpool because they are both crying out for a striker. I just look at how long he has left on his deal and I think 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 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 had to.
“And that is why, if Newcastle get into the Champions League, there’s no way Isak is leaving the club. 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.'”
