Newcastle should refuse any offers from Arsenal for in-form striker Alexander Isak – even if the figure amounts to £150million.
That’s the view of the Magpies’ legend Alan Shearer who netted 206 goals in 405 games during his time at St James’ Park.
The Gunners have long been linked with a move for the Swedish hitman but have yet to make any formal approach.
Isak has fast become a thorn in Arsenal’s side having netted the winner in the league meeting between the two sides in November.
And if that game wasn’t enough to persuade Arsenal’s decision makers then his most recent audition on Tuesday night might just have done the trick.
The 25-year-old netted his 15th goal of the season and registered a second-half assist as Newcastle claimed a crucial 2-0 win at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg.
Shearer knows just how important Isak’s presence is in Eddie Howe’s side with only the injury-hampered Callum Wilson available to offer a like-for-like option.
Asked whether he would sell Isak if the north London club made a whopping £150m bid, Shearer provided an emphatic response.
“No, is the answer,” Shearer told The Rest is Football.
“Who are they gonna go out and get that would come into Newcastle and do a similar job?
“We know that centre forward is the most important position. He’s one of the reasons they’re sitting in fifth and in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.”
Shearer was then asked whether Newcastle would be best served to take the money and reinvest it back into the squad.
Credit: YouTube: @therestisfootballAlan Shearer says Alexander Isak would be hard to replace if Newcastle opted to cash in[/caption]
“You could go out and spend £50-60m on another striker but who? What? Where?,” Shearer added.
“They are really difficult to find so when you’ve got a bloody good one, why do you want to let him go for any price?
“If they’ve got to sell for PSR (Profit and Sustainability rules) reasons, there would be other players I’d sell before I’d sell Isak for £150m.”
The Swede has netted in each of his last eight games making him arguably the most in-form striker in the Premier League.
His goal at the Emirates was his 50th in a Newcastle shirt since his £63m arrival from Real Sociedad in August 2022.
Speaking on Isak’s performance against Arsenal, Newcastle boss Howe said: “He played very well in the first-half, he looked really good physically, his pace and movements were giving them [Arsenal] a problem. He looked free and I was delighted with how he performed, he took his goal really well.
“But then we knew in the second half we needed to manage him, he is so important, we can’t lose him or risk losing him.”