3 hours ago
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Newcastle is being urged to sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool, because there are no guarantees that the Magpies will receive such a huge amount of money should they choose to sell him in the future.
The Reds saw a $146 million bid for Isak swiftly rejected at the start of August, and the Sweden striker is now being forced to train alone by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe amid his desire to leave St. James' Park.
Isak ruled himself out of the club's recent pre-season tour of Asia, but despite his obvious keenness to leave the North East, Newcastle remains keen to keep hold of the 25-year-old, who has emerged as one of the world's best strikers over the last couple of years.
Former Liverpool striker Jermaine Pennant urged Newcastle to cash in on Isak, though, telling talkSPORT: "If you've got one hand tied behind your back, then it's very difficult to get transfers in and build on your team and then you're fighting a losing battle.
"I'm not just saying this because I'm a Liverpool fan but wouldn't it be in probably everybody's best interest if Newcastle cashed in on Isak?
"It's because not only will you be getting [$146 million], [Newcastle] will be getting [rid of] a player that is very unhappy and you may not get the best out of him this season because of all the noise that's gone on.
"You then can use that money to replace and get other players without worrying about PSR. And then everyone gets what they want and Newcastle rebuild and move on."
It was suggested to Pennant that a compromise could be for Isak to stay at Newcastle on improved wages, but with a release clause built into a prospective new contract, but he responded: "There's no guarantee, he could get injured. There's no guarantee Liverpool will want to go back in next year.
"We've seen what happened to James Maddison. It's very difficult to see. He's out for the season now.
"All it takes is one injury to then your career, literally go, get railroaded off track. So it's all good saying we'll give him this in the next season, but it's all ifs and buts we don't know what's around the corner."
"I think it will be in everyone's best interest if Newcastle took £110m. Well, he's unhappy, so [if he stays] you might not be getting your best player."
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