Newcastle boss Eddie Howe insists there's no rush to offer Alexander Isak a new contract despite rumours linking the striker with Arsenal.
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Isak's contract runs until 2028Striker linked with Arsenal moveNewcastle 'relaxed' about situationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Howe is keen to see Isak return to his best form after struggling in the early stages of the season, insisting that contract discussions are not a "short-term issue" for the club. The Swedish forward is contracted to Newcastle until 2028, so a new deal isn't of particular concern to the club at this stage.
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Instead, Howe wants to see Isak banging in the goals again following an injury-hit start to the campaign. According to , the Magpies are 'relaxed' about the contract situation, with Howe admitting they can help their chances of retaining the 25-year-old by showing him that the St. James' Park club is capable of winning trophies and qualifying for European football again.
WHAT HOWE SAID
“How I feel about it is I want Alex to be focused on his football, whatever that looks like,” Howe said. “Whether that is him saying, ‘I’m fine, I’m good, I’ve got four years left on my contract, I’m happy at the football 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 football club. But my main job at the moment – we are outside of a transfer window – is just to get Alex fit and playing his best football, enjoying his best football and scoring goals.”
When asked if people need to calm down amid reports linking Isak with a summer move to Arsenal, Howe replied: "Absolutely, there will be ongoing talks like I’ve said. But Alex can only help his situation by playing well.
“He is an outstanding talent, he really is. He can do everything, I’ve said that many times. He has got this incredible natural ability. Really good with the ball, really intelligent and a deadly goalscorer when he is at his absolute best.
“I would be very hesitant to swap him for anybody in world football, but of course we haven’t quite seen that devastating, all-round game so far this season. For me that’s been down to a couple of niggly injuries that keep setting him back when he looks like he is ready to explode. He is getting close to that prime physical condition so this will be a big week for him with three big games coming up.”
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Isak currently earns around £150,000-per-week and Howe is aware that any improvement on this would potentially impact Newcastle's ability to meet Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
“Every decision we make as a football club has a knock-on effect,” he added. “For contract renewals, there is a knock-on effect for PSR and we have to make sure we don’t put ourselves in a position where we can’t act freely in the transfer windows because of what we have done with individual player contracts.”