Newcastle United identify three-man transfer shortlist to ease Alexander Isak concern

Newcastle United have identified a three-man striker shortlist to replace Alexander Isak IF he is sold this summer, even though the current stance from inside St James' Park is that he is not for sale.

Arsenal and Liverpool are among those to have been linked with a swoop for Isak, who has scored a whopping 19 goals in 24 Premier League appearances this season.

Although Newcastle are determined to keep hold of the Sweden international and don't want to sell him, scouts are looking at the frontman market in case their talisman leaves.

The Daily Mail report Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap has been added to that list and Newcastle are said to be monitoring his situation. Delap, 22, who joined the Tractor Boys from Manchester City for £20million last summer, has scored 10 goals in 27 league appearances this season.

However, Newcastle are expected to face strong competition for the former Hull City loanee and the word is that Chelsea are favourites to secure his signature if Ipswich are relegated. Manchester United are also watching Delap, who is valued at around £40million and has four years left on his contract.

Meanwhile, Lille star Jonathan David has been watched by Newcastle scout Steve Nickson. The Canadian is a free agent in the summer and a move to the Premier League is anticipated; with Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool among the others linked. David, 25, has scored 21 goals in 38 matches for the Ligue 1 this season.

Nickson has also been keeping a close eye on Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. The Slovenia forward has long had admirers at St James' Park and the Magpies could come back for him. Sesko has fired in 17 goals in 34 appearances for Leipzig this season, but has a gentleman's agreement that may see him depart this summer.

Despite this, the preference is for Isak to stay, and talks over a new contract are set to be revisited in the summer transfer window. However, Newcastle are still planning ahead and sporting director Paul Mitchell and his team are aware that Isak could depart -in a worst case scenario - and do not want to be caught out.

Speaking on Isak's future last month, Eddie Howe said: "We have to try and keep our best players. That's crucial to our short-term success and our long-term success, so sitting here as the manager of the football club, I'd be saying we need to keep the group together and we need to add the other way.

"We haven't added [to the first team] in a long time in various transfer windows - for the reasons that we have all discussed. But we need to move the team forward and we can't lose our best players."

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