Newcastle ready club-record bid for £75m Arsenal target in unanimous Magpies board decision

Newcastle are readying a bid for Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak this summer that will break their transfer record, according to reports.

Isak was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in January, but there is now a unanimous agreement among members of the Newcastle board that he would be the perfect signing for Eddie Howe.

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That’s according to The Telegraph, who claim talks have already taken place with Sociedad over bringing Isak to St James’ Park.

It’s thought any bid would have to break the record £40m fee they paid to bring Bruno Guimaraes to the club from Lyon in January.

Isak is said to have a £75m release clause, but the La Liga club are said to be willing to listen to offers over £50m.

Should Newcastle complete the signing of the 22-year-old it would bring their transfer business to an end this summer with the club already having shelled out £60m on Sven Botman (£33m), Matt Targett (£16m) and Nick Pope (£11m).

The report does state that the Toon bosses are hopeful of agreeing a structured deal which would see them pay a big chunk of the proposed fee for Isak next summer, to give them more flexibility in the current window.

But Sociedad want a big influx of cash for the Sweden international now, which is why negotiations have stalled.

Elsewhere, on his decision to join Newcastle over AC Milan, Botman added: “Ultimately, Newcastle United’s great project, in combination with playing in the Premier League, was the deciding factor.

“That last one has been a dream my whole life. AC Milan also gave me a good feeling, but Newcastle United felt just a little better in the end.

“I really wanted to go to Newcastle United in January, because I also heard, and that’s a cliché, I know, that a train like this doesn’t pass by very often. But the clubs couldn’t figure it out.

“And afterwards this might be better, because I can now experience a lot of preparation and I was able to say goodbye to Lille in a beautiful way. That club deserved it. Staying wasn’t a punishment for me in January either, because I knew there were two great Champions League games against Chelsea coming up. I now have that baggage too.”