Eddie Howe has indicated that Newcastle's board does not currently prioritize extending Alexander Isak's contract and is urging the underperforming Swedish striker to alter their stance. Isak is highly sought after, with Arsenal particularly interested, but with his current deal lasting until 2028 and Newcastle needing to comply with profit and sustainability regulations, there appears to be reluctance to immediately enhance an existing agreement that already makes Isak one of the club's top earners.

"I want Alex to concentrate on football," Howe said as he prepared for Sunday's match against Chelsea, which kicks off a week that also includes a home Carabao Cup tie against Enzo Maresca's team followed by a Premier League visit from Arsenal. "If he's saying I have four years left on my contract, I'm happy at the club, and I just want to play my best football, that's the ideal scenario." However, nothing in football is straightforward, so I'm sure there will be ongoing discussions between Alex, his representatives, and the club. But my primary focus right now is to get Alex fit, playing his best football, enjoying it, and scoring goals."

Howe is resolute about keeping Isak but understands that offering the 25-year-old an exorbitant new deal could hinder broader squad improvements. "Alex can only improve his situation by playing well," the manager said. "Every decision we make has a ripple effect. For contract renewals, there's an impact on PSR, and we must ensure we don't restrict our actions in transfer windows due to individual player contracts."

The situation is somewhat intricate. We must be extremely cautious with our spending. It's not a straightforward issue with Alex. We adore him and desperately want him to stay for many years and score numerous goals, but I don't see a short-term problem with his contract.

With Callum Wilson unavailable for the next three games due to "tightness" following recent recoveries from back and hamstring injuries, Howe is heavily reliant on a striker he believes is unmatched. Adding to the complexity, Isak is still recuperating from a broken toe. "Alex is an exceptional talent, capable of everything," Howe added. "He possesses incredible natural ability. Very skilled with the ball, highly intelligent, and a lethal goalscorer when at his peak."

I would be very reluctant to trade him for anyone in world football, but we haven't quite seen that devastating, all-around game this season. For me, that's been due to a couple of nagging injuries that keep setting him back. But I think he's nearing optimal physical condition, so this will be a crucial week for him.

Howe acknowledges Newcastle must also contribute to keeping Isak satisfied. "One of our challenges is to continually advance the club," he said. "It's easy to talk about ambition, but we must demonstrate it. We need to provide our best players with an environment where they feel they're thriving. We don't want to dismantle our team annually."

But a player also has to perform at high levels. If he's expressing huge ambitions, he must deliver on the pitch—it's a two-way street.

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