Newcastle United are keen to keep Alexander Isak amid interest from Arsenal, and they’re planning to give the striker a pay rise.

Alex Crook reports for talkSPORT that Newcastle United want to stave off interest from Arsenal by offering Alexander Isak a new contract.

The striker is already under contract with his current club until 2028, but his deal contains a clause reducing his wages by up to 20% if Newcastle miss out on Champions League football.

16 points shy of the top four with five games remaining, that is now the reality for Isak’s club. Only an extremely unlikely run to fifth coinciding with an even more improbable coefficient swing to give England a fifth CL spot would keep Newcastle’s hopes alive.

But Newcastle are willing to appease Isak by offering him a pay rise to put him in line with the club’s top earners this summer.

Arsenal appear to be on the lookout for a striker this summer, even if that pursuit has been somewhat quelled by the recent impact of Kai Havertz up front.

Isak looks to be a great option, with 21 goals in 35 games this season at the age of 24, and an existing relationship with Arsenal star playmaker Martin Odegaard from their time together at Real Sociedad.

Yet the deal looks very unlikely given how much Newcastle would demand. The fact they’re pushing for Isak to sign a brand new contract only emphasises their desire to keep him.

“He’s an outstanding talent and no one connected with Newcastle would want to lose him,” Eddie Howe said recently.

“He can go on to achieve incredible things in his career.”