Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has urged the club to do everything in their power to keep hold of Alexander Isak this summer, claiming it would be ‘absolutely bonkers’ to let the striker leave and join a rival.

Despite being sidelined with two separate groin injuries, Isak, 24, is Newcastle’s top scorer with 23 goals this term and is widely regarded as one of the finest attackers in the Premier League when fit and firing.

However, speculation has been mounting that Isak could be set for the exit door at St James’ Park, with Arsenal and Tottenham looking to strengthen up front and reportedly plotting £100million moves for the Sweden international.

Eddie Howe has been insistent that Isak is not for sale and it’s understood the Magpies are readying a new contract offer for the forward to ensure his head is not turned.

It remains to be seen where Isak will be when the summer transfer window closes but one thing is for sure – Shearer is desperate to see the ‘magnificent’ Swede pulling on the black and white of Newcastle next season.

‘He’s very good. He’s a very, very good player,’ Shearer – the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer – said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

‘He’s a modern day forward… do you know the trend now, rather than centre-forward, he’s a forward. He’s a brilliant example of that.

‘He’s had one or two injuries this season but whilst he’s been on the pitch he hasbeen absolutely magnificent.

‘He’s brilliant at running in behind because he’s quick and once he’s away you’re not catching him.

‘He’s also very clever at coming short and dragging defenders in with them, therefore leaving space in behind. He’s a very clever, intelligent player and he’s got great ability.

‘They’re sat on a great asset and it would be absolutely bonkers if Newcastle, for whatever reason, sold him in the summer.’

There have been some rumours that Isak could sold in the summer in order for Newcastle to balance the books and keep in line with the Premier League’s financial regulations.

However, Shearer insists it would be ‘madness’ and a ‘right kick in the knackers’ if his former club were to cash in on their star man.

‘I still think it would be [madness] if they had to sell him,’ he added.

‘He’s worth an absolute fortune and it would be bonkers if Newcastle sold him this summer because you know what they’re like, they’re really, really difficult to get goalscorers and he is one of the best.

‘They love him and rightly so. You know what it’s like up here at Newcastle. If you score goals then you’re going to be adored and the fans adore him.

‘It would be a right kick in the knackers if they sold him.’

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Newcastle defender Dan Burn claimed Isak had ‘everything’ in his locker while calling on the club to keep hold of the striker.

Asked if he was hoping for Isak to stay put, Burn replied: ‘Yeah, ideally I’d love to keep him!

‘I think Alex has been brilliant. He did score a few goals when he first came and it took him a while to build relationships with team-mates and get used to the way that we want to play and what’s expected of him.

‘But he’s got everything, Alex. He’s got that real quality and he could go on to play for top, top teams.

‘I think it is important that we keep hold of our best players and Alex is definitely one of them.’

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