The striker's future is still up in the air despite Liverpool's approach being rebuffed, and Eddie Howe and Co. are struggling badly to make additions
Like a disappointing all-inclusive holiday, Newcastle's summer has not gone to plan. The Magpies' qualification for the Champions League via a fifth-placed Premier League finish was expected to preface some significant improvement to the squad in the transfer window with their Profit and Sustainability Rule (PSR) fears allayed, but so far it's been a story of rejection and "frustration".
Despite the near-limitless financial backing of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the PIF, multiple key targets have opted to move elsewhere, with just one major signing completed to date. And to make matters worse, there is serious speculation surrounding star striker Alexander Isak, who is evidently so unsettled that the club has been forced to take action.
Unable to land their desired players and facing the grim reality of their talisman leaving before the window closes, Newcastle's summer of discontent only looks likely to get worse…
Getty ImagesMissed targets
The summer has been characterised by high-profile near misses for Newcastle, who have made one major signing so far in the form of the costly £52 million ($75m) capture of Anthony Elanga from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest. That deal aside, it has been a story of repeated rejection.
At one stage or another, the Magpies had been in the running to sign the likes of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro (both of whom joined Chelsea), Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo (both of whom joined Manchester United) AND Dean Huijsen, who has long since joined Real Madrid.
Just as it seemed Newcastle might finally be set to end their streak of snubs, the Tynesiders were brutally gazumped by Liverpool despite a big-money offer for Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike, with the striker now bound for Anfield rather than St. James' Park. Primary goalkeeper target James Trafford, meanwhile, is increasingly being linked with Manchester City despite the Magpies' pursuit of the Burnley shot-stopper having been trailed well before the transfer window opened.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportStruggle to compete
The Magpies now find themselves desperately trying to push beyond their current status as 'Big Six' disruptors, going head to head with the planet's leading clubs in the transfer market for a higher calibre of player in their bid to cement themselves as top-four regulars and lay the foundations for future title tilts.
But for a second summer in a row they are having to face up to a reality where they are still struggling to compete with the established order, despite their mega riches and the additional offer of Champions League football, and financial restrictions mean this is a problem they can't simply throw money at.
Manchester United may have finished 15th last season, but the allure of one of the biggest clubs on the planet is still strong; Chelsea are, of course, based in London – a playground for the wealthy – and their return to the Champions League and unexpected Club World Cup triumph is said to have put top stars on notice that they are back on the up; Man City have Pep Guardiola in the dugout and have already completed the transition that lies ahead for Newcastle, from new-money pretenders to established serial winners; Mikel Arteta is a massive draw for Arsenal, who are closer than ever to finally ending that Premier League title drought and the appeal of being part of that is significant.
Through no fault of their own, Newcastle simply can't compete with that legacy, geographical location or the potential to be part of a genuine title challenge, and that is not something that is going to change in the short-term, even if they technically have the bank balance to absolutely dominate.
Getty Images Sport'Really frustrating summer'
Head coach Eddie Howe has not hidden his exasperation with the situation, perhaps in an effort to trigger a reaction in the market from those above him in the Newcastle hierarchy. Speaking after the damning 4-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Celtic, he pulled no punches.
"It has been a really frustrating summer," he conceded. "We've been very close to signing several players and for different reasons – there's not one theme why we haven't signed more – we've ended up missing out on a few who would have made a difference."
The 47-year-old also hinted strongly that the club are struggling to attract the very best talent on the market: "The one most important factor in any transfer is the player has to want to come to Newcastle. We're a very proud club and are proud of what we do, so any player has to feel that. If they don't, for whatever reason, I don't think it's a healthy transfer. Every player we have signed to this point, that's gone on to be hugely successful with us, has had that desire to come."
In a rather bleak final statement, he added: "I'd say I'm hopeful rather than confident because we're not in control of the market or agents, players and other clubs. I can assure everybody we are a hundred percent on it and trying to do things quickly."
Getty Images SportBad to worse
It had been thought that the one enduring upside for Newcastle in this transfer window was that, having secured a return to the Champions League and the revenues that come with that achievement, they were not under any pressure to sell to fall in line with PSR. That was supposed to make talismanic striker Isak untouchable, especially off the back of a prolific, 27-goal season and with three years to run on his contract. However, the picture has changed very quickly despite the club's insistence that the Swede is not for sale.
First, Liverpool rocked the boat significantly as it emerged the Reds were prepared to stump up in the region of £130m ($175m) to snatch Isak in what would have been a Premier League record transfer. Newcastle's Saudi owners are said to have intervened to ensure the approach was rebuffed, but that wasn't the end of the story.
Later the same day, it was reported that Saudi giants Al-Hilal – who, like Newcastle, are owned by the unfathomably wealthy Public Investment Fund (PIF) in the Gulf State – were weighing up their own mammoth offer for the 25-year-old. Perhaps tellingly, that news was not given the same short shift that Liverpool's interest was, and Howe was forced to take action – sending Isak home before the friendly against Celtic due to the intense speculation surrounding his star player.