Alexander Isak offered mammoth package to leave Newcastle

The tectonic plates of European football threaten to shift as Saudi giants Al-Hilal present Alexander Isak with a career-altering proposition – a tax-free £600,000 weekly wage package that could force Newcastle United into the most consequential decision of their Saudi-backed era.

While club officials maintain their “not for sale” stance through gritted teeth, the staggering offer from their PIF sister club creates an unprecedented dilemma that tests the very foundation of Newcastle’s sporting project.

This seismic bid arrives amid growing tension between player and club, with Isak reportedly frustrated by Newcastle’s reluctance to improve his terms despite establishing himself as one of world football’s elite strikers.

The 24-year-old’s 23-goal Premier League campaign last season positioned him alongside Haaland and Salah as the division’s most lethal marksmen, yet Al-Hilal’s offer dwarfs anything Newcastle or Liverpool could realistically table.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)

The package includes performance bonuses that could push annual earnings beyond £35 million – figures that make even Europe’s wealthiest clubs blanch.

For Newcastle’s hierarchy, the quandary cuts deeper than finances. Selling to Al-Hilal would invite accusations of asset-stripping between PIF-owned entities, potentially triggering Premier League scrutiny after last summer’s Neves controversy.

Yet rejecting the deal risks alienating a disgruntled Isak, whose camp has made clear his openness to Liverpool’s interest.

The Swedish international’s absence from preseason tours, officially attributed to injury, fuels suspicion that his Newcastle career may already be over.

Liverpool’s interest presents its own complications. Arne Slot’s side lack the financial firepower to match Al-Hilal’s terms, and Newcastle remain reluctant to strengthen a direct rival despite Fabrizio Romano’s claims about Isak’s Anfield preference.

The Reds’ £79 million acquisition of Hugo Ekitiké suggests they’re preparing alternative plans, though Isak’s Premier League-proven quality makes him Slot’s ideal candidate to lead Liverpool’s new era.

The coming days will reveal whether Isak prioritizes sporting ambition or financial gain. Accepting Al-Hilal’s offer would secure generational wealth but potentially jeopardize his status as Sweden’s talisman ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

For Newcastle, the outcome will define their transfer window – either triggering a frantic search for replacements or allowing them to build around their crown jewel.

One certainty remains: in football’s new financial reality, even “not for sale” carries an invisible price tag.