Newcastle 'set asking price' for Alexander Isak if they don't qualify for Champions League amid Liverpool and Arsenal interest

Newcastle have set their asking price for striker Alexander Isak if they don't qualify for the Champions League, a new report has claimed.

Isak has been arguably the best striker in world football this season, netting 19 goals from 29 appearances in all competitions.

He played a significant role in Newcastle reaching the Carabao Cup final, scoring the Magpies' second goal that gave them a 2-0 advantage heading into the second leg of their semi-final against Arsenal.

The Gunners have been linked with making a move for Isak for much of the past year, with supporters likening his playing and finishing style to that of Thierry Henry.

Barcelona and Liverpool are also believed to be interested in signing the former Real Sociedad striker, for whom Newcastle spent a club-record fee of £63 million to sign back in 2022.

Eddie Howe's side are seventh in the Premier League after Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Manchester City, but are only two points off the fifth place that appears likely to secure Champions League qualification - as long as England remain in the top two of UEFA's co-efficient system based on clubs' European performance this season.

Alexander Isak celebrates during Newcastle's 2-0 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final (Image: Getty)

According to Spanish outlet Sport, Newcastle are unwilling to sell Isak this summer with Barcelona said to have expressed their interest.

A fee of €150 million has previously been quoted but Sport claim that the Magpies could consider a sale for as little as €100 million (around £83m) - only if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Such a fee would appear significantly lower than might be expected for one of the world's top strikers, even if Newcastle aren't playing in Europe's top club competition next term.

Howe made his feelings clear on exactly how highly he rates the 25-year-old Swedish international ahead of his side's defeat to City on Saturday.

He said: "I love working with Alex and I wouldn't swap him for anyone. We've tried to help him by moulding our style of play to suit his game.

"Alex is very, very different to any other striker I've seen or worked with.

"He does things that aren't like your traditional centre-forward. He's almost like a winger combined into a striker's mentality because his footwork and dribbling ability is so good.

"That's almost winger-like, and then you put him into the middle of the pitch and, with his pace and technical ability and exceptional finishing, he's sort of got the whole package linked into one. He's very unique and I'd encourage him to stay that way."