It is very difficult to predict the Newcastle season can be seen until the future of Isak is planned, but it can still be very good.
They have one, if not better, the central stadium in the country, is strong in many places and looks like they are signing half of the station in AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw.
So, if you look at the big picture, if Isak stays or goes and can bring two quality attackers, they still have a very good team.
However, I’m not sure they will be able to improve on the fifth place last season. The top four of last season have done a very good business and have gone very big in the transfer market, it will be very difficult for any chase packet to break those sites, not just Newcastle.
In terms of head I see Liverpool as a bias, even without Isak. You just have to take a look at what they did last season, and how they won the crown in the Canter.
They have seen Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving, and unfortunately they lost Diogo Jota, but they have used a lot to strengthen their squad and will not be disrupted by having any star coming to the end of their contract. Who knows what they can do under Arne Slot if they would find a good front as Isak, too.
In the end Arsenal have an outdoor and outdoor striker in Viktor Gyokeres and will believe that, after three consecutive places, he can make them over the line in the crown race. Their top striker in the Premier League last season was Kai Havertz with nine goals, so it tells you what they have been missing.
How good Gyokeres is one of the things I expect to know in a new campaign, and it’s similar to other attackers at new clubs, like Liam Delap and Joao Pedro in Chelsea. I don’t think they have finished still in the transfer market, and their attack already seems to be more dangerous than last season.
That applies to how Benjamin Sesko stays in Manchester United. I was disappointed that he chose to go to Newcastle, but at the same time I saw him live several times last season and he is a capable player, rather than giving reliable goals.
I see what Sesko’s power is, but £ 74m is a lot of money for a player with a chance to improve. At the age of 22 he is not a way to finish, but there will still be a lot of pressure on him to do.
With Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United have spent more than £ 200m on their front line, but I still don’t see them entering the top four.
I think it’s hard for them to go from 15 to Champions League areas, even if fifth place is good again. Instead I make them finish anywhere between six and 10, but not high.
Alan Shearing was talking to Chris Bevan of BBC Sport.
