Arsenal and Liverpool put on alert as Newcastle draw up Alexander Isak contingency plans

Newcastle have compiled a shortlist of top strikers amid interest in Alexander Isak - but they remain determined to hold on to the Swede.

Isak, 25, has established himself as one of the deadliest No.9's in the Premier League since joining the Magpies back in the summer of 2022 and only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland have plundered more goals than him in the league this season.

Arsenal have been credited with an interest in the former Real Sociedad striker for months given their need for an elite frontman. Liverpool have also been thrust into the equation in recent weeks amid speculation they could seek an upgrade on Darwin Nunez, who has endured a difficult season in front of goal.

Newcastle's stance on Isak remains the same: they have no desire to cash in on their star striker and plan to open contract talks with him at the end of the season.

But that hasn't stopped them drawing up contingency plans, with The Mail revealing that the club have been monitoring a number of strikers who would only become targets were Isak to leave, including Benjamin Sesko.

The RB Leipzig frontman is also known to be a target for Arsenal, who will enter the market for a new No.9 in the summer after keeping their powder dry in January.

As well as Sesko, the Magpies have also been impressed with Jonathan David and Liam Delap, who has stood out for Ipswich Town in the Premier League this season.

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Delap is another player who is set to be in demand in the summer after plundering 10 goals for the Tractor Boys in the league. Manchester United and Chelsea have both been credited with an interest in the striker, who spent time with Manchester City before moving to Suffolk.

Newcastle chief executive Darren Eales reiterated earlier this week that the club were under no pressure to sell Isak or any of their other top players, who are all signed up to long-term contracts.

“The reality is that all of our players are under long-term deals,” Eales said, per The i Paper. “They’re committed to the club. So, from that perspective, we’re not looking to move any player on. We’ve got that wish and desire to keep our key players [and] we’re not under the gun [to sell] or anything like that.

“We’ve got an ownership that is ambitious [and] wants the best for the club. So from that perspective, it’d be crazy for us to consider it.”

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