Alexander Isak: Newcastle given fresh transfer hope as Hugo Ekitike Liverpool comparison made

Former Newcastle United defender Stuart Pearce has exclusively told Sports Mole that he cannot see Alexander Isak leaving the club this summer, despite persistent links with Liverpool.

The Premier League champions have already added Hugo Ekitike to their offensive ranks in recent weeks, but they are said to hold a serious interest in Isak, who is training alone at former club Real Sociedad after informing Newcastle of his wishes to explore a move to Anfield.

Isak was omitted from the Magpies' pre-season tour squad on account of his desire to leave, and Newcastle are braced to receive a Premier League-record bid from Liverpool, who could stump up at least £130m for the 25-year-old.

Asked if Isak is worth breaking the Premier League transfer record for, Pearce replied: “The only time they're not worth it is if they don't deliver on what they're showing, their potential. It would be a big blow to Newcastle."

Newcastle offered Isak transfer hope amid Liverpool links

The former England defender then expressed his view that Isak would continue in a black and white shirt for the 2025-26 season, although he also admitted that "money talks" and Newcastle will likely sell for a nine-figure sum.

"I personally don't think he'll end up leaving, certainly not this season," Pearce added. "I hope that's the case. He's led the line brilliantly.

"[Anthony] Elanga coming to the club as well makes them really serious contenders, The pair of them give Howe a whole new dimension to what he’s already got.

“Money talks in the game. If Liverpool are prepared to stump up that sort of money, I think eventually Newcastle will sell on. I don't think they need to sell, but I think they will do.”

Isak has had a direct hand in 73 goals in 109 appearances for Newcastle since joining in the summer of 2022 - 62 of his own and 11 assists - and only Mohamed Salah (29) found the back of the net more times than the Swede (23) in the Premier League last season.

How Isak and Ekitike compare amid Liverpool transfer uncertainty

Should Pearce be proven wrong and Liverpool pull off a record-breaking move for Isak, Arne Slot will likely have the best kind of dilemma in the final third, as both the Newcastle man and Ekitike will be vying to lead the line.

Isak struck eight more Premier League goals than Ekitike managed in the Bundesliga last season (15), although the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker registered two more assists than his Scandinavian foe (eight to six).

However, Isak managed to over-perform his Expected Goals (xG) of 20.3, whereas Ekitike netted 15 goals from a total of 21.6 xG in the Bundesliga, suggesting that the Newcastle attacker is the more refined finisher.

Ekitike did register more shots on goal than Isak in their 2024-25 league campaigns - 114 to 95 - but 38.6% of the Frenchman's efforts were on target compared to 43.2% for the Sweden international.

Slot must also find ways to fit Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai into his system, although it has been suggested that the Dutchman could alter his formation to maximise the embarrassment of riches he has in attack.

> Click here to listen to Pearce's full answer on Isak to Liverpool

Stuart Pearce was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of 888Sport.