Newcastle United handed Alexander Isak transfer warning after Real Madrid and Arsenal message

Newcastle United have been told to tie Alexander Isak down to a longer-term contract or risk interest from Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool in future transfer windows.

The Swedish striker continued his current goalscoring form with the equaliser in Sunday's 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, taking him to four goals in his last four matches after a slow start to the season. His all-round performance caught the eye of former Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott, who feels he can get even better.

The Gunners had been linked to Isak in the summer transfer window, but the player himself has spoken of being happy and settled on Tyneside since his move from Real Sociedad in 2022. His current deal runs until 2027, but recent talks over a new contract produce no agreement.

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While there is no pressing need to agree and extension, it can fuel future transfer speculation, and BBC pundit Walcott feels other clubs will be keeping a close eye on his development.

“When you talk about the mould for the ultimate build of a perfect striker, Alexander Isak has got all of those elements," he told the BBC. "I am not saying he is perfect yet, but he's got all the attributes he needs to become perfect.

“Whether that will happen at Newcastle, I don’t know, but they need to tie him down pretty quickly otherwise they are going to lose him. Isak is the sort of player Arsenal genuinely need, but you would say everyone needs a player like him in their team right now, even Liverpool, and it is not just Premier League teams who will be trying to get hold of him either.

“Look at Real Madrid’s line-up at this moment in time. They go for these Galacticos and buy these incredible talents but they sometimes put them in positions where they can’t quite do it. I would say if you put Isak in that Real team then he moulds them together in a different way, where you might think they now look like a very well-balanced team.

“That’s the level he’s at and I can absolutely understand why all the very top teams would want him. As well as his all-round forward play, he scores goals as well – all kinds of different goals. As I said on Match of the Day 2, his finish against Forest when the ball dropped for him in the box was pure class, after the brilliant header he put away against Arsenal last week.

“There is more to come from him as well. Newcastle are a good team but put him in a better team and he would get better too. Watching Arsenal, they are not one-dimensional but their attacks can be a little bit predictable at times. Imagine them having the option of a player like Isak who can genuinely do everything, and then put Odegaard, for instance, behind him.

“Kai Havertz has been brilliant at leading the line, up to a point, but we are talking about Arsenal challenging to win the league, and they need that next level of player to do that. Isak would be it, at any club, but if Arsenal do want him then they have to get in there quick, because Real Madrid, or someone like that, are going come knocking, and his price is only going to go up.”