Newcastle United is the best place for Alexander Isak - and the club's owners will do everything they can to keep the striker at the club and make an example of him when it comes to showcasing their ambition.

The Swedish international has been linked with an exit from United but there is a belief that not only can the club offer what the forward wants, but also the sides which are credited with interest do not represent an upgrade for Isak.

Clubs like Arsenal or Chelsea have been linked but questions have been posed that not only would both clubs struggle to match any asking price set by United but that a move to either one of the London sides would necessarily be a progressive one, while focus for Real Madrid or Barcelona lies elsewhere.

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Speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, our Chief Business of Football Writer, Dave Powell noted that keeping hold of Isak will be seen as a way to send out a warning to other clubs about the aspirations held by The Public Investment Fund.

"Newcastle may avoid this [losing their big stars] because is Arsenal the huge step up that is suggested? They haven't had a league league title for a long time. They've never won a Champions League and I don't know if he'd be any closer winning that by going to Arsenal.

"Arsenal, they are the annual also-rans, and you look at the players who have been added, they're very good but they seem to reach a ceiling consistently whereas Newcastle, no one really knows what that is for them.

"The focus in Madrid of on someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold - it's not a consideration, and that's a big when you have some big clubs which aren't considerations.

"Chelsea? I'm not entirely sure what's enticing about that.

"There's Liverpool but they aren't going to pay the money to get Alexander Isak to Anfield - Liverpool fans would love it but it's not going to happen.

"Newcastle find themselves in a position of strength to be able to offer a deal and be confident he will stay because ultimately the clubs is heading in a good direction."

Plenty was made of Isak's deal at Newcastle which runs until June 2028 - earlier in the season there were whispers that talks over a new contract were taking place - although nothing materialised. With more than two-years to run on his contract, there's a relaxed outlook on Isak's future at the club.

Isak is happy and not pushing to leave, while Newcastle are not in a rush to break the wage structure which for now is the keeping the club on the right side of PSR restrictions. A deal however is thought to be in the pipeline, and Powell believes that Isak will be focused on much more than money.

"The conversations around any contract extension will undoubtedly centre not only on money however they will be able to pay an extension, that won't be a problem but it will be Isak asking 'if I'm staying here for another five years, what does my future look like? What does the investment in the summer look like? And the summer after that? Are we going to be serious challengers for the Champions League or title?

"Isak will want answers to those questions to be 'yes.'

"Now, in order to get to a position where you can have a contract extension and to see your best players who are coveted by the 'big clubs,' you have to be able to offer them these genuine options.

"In creating that financial headroom, ahead of this summer and the following summer, I think they're going to be able to in a position to be able to say yes [to those questions] and with some confidence."

Isak has been in fantastic form this season with 17 goals in all competitions and is now just two away from becoming second in the list of Newcastle's all-time Premier League goalscorers.

Aside from the hope that Newcastle will be able to offer all the assurances that Isak - or other big stars - may want, there is also a view point that the club's majority owners want to make an example of Isak by keeping him at the club - avoiding United becoming a 'stepping stone' to bigger things.

Powell added: "I really think there's going to be huge reluctance [to sell Isak], largely because of optics as well - they don't want to be seen as a club that sells.

"Newcastle, they're going to be in a place to leverage, I don't know if they need to sell a big player. It will only be done if the funds are going to be reinvested in improving not only that area but several. So they can sell a big player, but then move into and be able to spot an opportunity in the market where they can sign someone even more impactful for less money.

"Is the profile younger on a longer deal, or do you address two or three areas of the team which need doing, which overall improves the sum of the parts for the football club. So if there's a deal to be done and it'll improve Newcastle, they will but if it's just to improve the financial situation, that ship is almost sailed.

"Given the way the markets are, I mean, who knows what what anyone's worth.

"But at Newcastle, I think there's a real reluctance from the PIF to engage in that because it sends the signals out that we are just a club which is a stepping stone, whereas that's what they're keen to avoid."

You can listen to the full episode with our chief business of football writer Dave Powell by clicking here or watch it via YouTube by clicking here.