Then there are Isak’s wages. His exact demands are unknown but given his status as one of the world’s leading players a range of £250,000 to £300,000 a week is far from unreasonable. At that level, the hit to a club would be £15m-£18m annually.

Isak, who has emerged as a priority target, has made clear his intention to remain at the top level of European football. Despite interest from Saudi Arabian clubs and a lucrative proposal worth a reported £600,000 per week, the Swedish international has set his sights on a switch to Merseyside.

A few weeks can make a huge difference in evaluating a club's season outlook, and the flurry of reports regarding star striker Alexander Isak have put a worrying cap on a troubling fortnight at Newcastle United.

Newcastle's latest pre-season defeat at least brought some positives. There was no Isak again but Elanga is off the mark

Arsenal are the other club that have been most readily linked with Isak given their desperate need for a new No.9. However, given the finances involved in a deal for the Newcastle man, the Gunners also turned to an alternative in his Sweden teammate Viktor Gyökeres.

Transfer news LIVE!The madness of this summer’s transfer window continues, with Premier League clubs left, right, and centre willing to spend big in a pursuit for success this season. Arsenal, who finished second in the division last term,

Alexander Isak has 'rejected' an extraordinarily lucrative contract to leave Newcastle this summer as Liverpool prepare a British club-record offer for the striker.