Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has distanced himself from continued speculation about a potential exit and says he’s fully focused on having a “fantastic season” at St James’ Park.
The 25-year-old scored 21 goals in 30 Premier League games last season to reinforce his status as one of the continent’s most clinical finishers – form which saw him linked with the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal.
A switch to the latter has continued to dominate gossip columns given Arsenal’s indifferent run of form and their reliance on Kai Havertz to play as a central striker, even though Isak publicly committed his future to Newcastle in June.
Isak has now reaffirmed his happiness at Newcastle, saying while on international duty with Sweden that he’s “never had any problem” at the club and is not thinking about anywhere else.
“Throughout my career, I have never talked about or really commented on the move rumours during the season,” Isak told Swedish publication Fotbal Skanalen. “There have been many such years where it has been talked about. It doesn’t affect me. I am commenting on my situation in Newcastle, and I have never had any problem there.
“I am fully focused on my task there and that we will have a fantastic season. There are still great opportunities for that. I have no thoughts about anything else.”
Isak added: “The only thing I can say is that a lot of information and rumours often come out. Much of what I read is not true. So that’s about all I can say about the whole thing.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has previously spoken of his desire for Isak to remain at the club for the long haul, referencing the duration of his current contract despite suggestions that talks over new and improved terms have stalled.
“I think with Alex he’s got a long contract anyway and we have to be really careful regarding our spending due to PSR. It’s not a clearcut situation. Every decision we make as a football club has a knock-on effect,” Howe said.
“We, of course, love Alex and are desperate for him to stay at Newcastle for many years and score loads of goals for us, but I don’t see a short-term issue with his contract. At this moment in time, Alex just needs to focus on his football.
“Whether that is him saying, ‘I’m fine. I’ve got four years left on my contract, I’m happy at the club and I just want to play my best football’. That is the ideal world. But, of course, nothing in football is straightforward, so I’m sure there will be ongoing discussions between Alex, his representatives and the club. Alex can only help his situation by playing well.”
