Jamie Carragher names ‘only two options’ for Alexander Isak after Man Utd proposal | Football

Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal and Liverpool are the only realistic destinations for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak.

The Sweden international has enjoyed another fine season on Tyneside, scoring 23 goals including a superb effort in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool as Newcastle ended their long wait for silverware.

Arsenal are long-term admirers of Isak with Liverpool also interested in luring him to Merseyside.

The 25-year-old has three years left on his current contract at St James’ Park, recently revealing that while he is happy in the northeast, there have been no talks over a new deal.

With Bruno Guimaraes also linked with a move away, former Manchester United captain believes some of Newcastle’s most prized assets will be lured away should some of the biggest names in club football come calling.

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‘They are going to struggle to keep hold of Isak, he is going to want to play somewhere else unfortunately it’s the nature of the beast,’ Neville told It’s Called Soccer.

‘They will lose those players unfortunately. The reality is Newcastle are a great football club and we didn’t see that any more as we did on Sunday [at the Carabao Cup final].

‘But they will want to play for the Real Madrids, Liverpools, Manchester Uniteds and Bayern Munichs of this world, it’s just natural that these players will want to play at those clubs at some point, if they can.’

After Neville’s rather hopeful suggestion that United, among the sides in desperate need of more firepower, could be in the running to sign Isak, Carragher insisted there will only be two clubs in the running should he decide to leave.

But the Liverpool legend believes Champions League qualification this season will be enough to put the discussion to bed for at least another season.

‘100 per cent I think Isak stays if they qualify for the Champions League, I don’t think they let him go anyway,’ Carragher said.

‘The problem they do have is if they don’t qualify. It doesn’t really matter what happened in the cup final.

‘I think the only two options at the moment would be Arsenal and Liverpool as they’re both sort of crying out for a striker.

‘I just look at how long he’s got left on his deal and the ball is in Newcastle’s court, it’s not really in Isak’s. I think once you get [down] to two years [on the contract], it’s almost a 50-50, no-one wants to allow a player to get down to 12 months.

‘Newcastle could keep him for another year and say, “we’ll see you then as we’re going to get the same sort of money”. I don’t think Newcastle gain anything by selling him now, unless that they have to.

“And that is why, if Newcastle get into the Champions League, there’s no way Isak is leaving the club. even if he wants to. I think the club will say: “No, do another 12 months and in a year’s time we can make a few quid and you can move on”.’

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