Newcastle told to 'consider' selling 'injury-prone' star good enough for Man United or Liverpool

Newcastle United should consider selling star striker Alexander Isak if they get offers over £70million this summer - because he's too 'injury-prone' and struggles with the demands of Eddie Howe's high-intensity style.

That's the surprise verdict of former Magpies and Liverpool defender Jose Enrique, who feels the Swedish forward misses too many games. The Spaniard has no doubts over Isak's quality, but insists United could even be better off cashing in on Isak and turning to a more 'reliable' option in the summer transfer window.

Arsenal have been credited with interest in the 24-year-old, who has already bagged 19 goals for Newcastle in all competitions this season. Eddie Howe has gone on record to say he wants to keep his best players at St James' Park for a long as possible, but both he and CEO Darren Eales have admitted selling a player to help with FFP restrictions remains a possibility.

READ MORE: Newcastle's Adidas kit launch date as 'toxic' claim made in Sports Direct battle

READ MORE: Wembley architect thinks Newcastle owners have secured 'special opportunity' for stadium dream

Isak has insisted he is happy on Tyneside and only focused on helping Newcastle achieve their goals for the season, and will again lead the line against Tottenham this weekend, looking to repeat his two-goal blast in last season's 6-1 rout. He has, however, missed several games through injury this season, as has fellow striker Callum Wilson in a campaign in which United have been dogged by incredibly bad luck on the injury front - and Enrique feels that should be a deciding factor.

“The problem with Alexander Isak – and we’ve said this about him even when he was at Real Sociedad – is that he’s always injured,” he told Grosvenor Sport. “The way Newcastle want to play is with high intensity and pressing from the front and you can’t be expected to fulfil that if you’re getting three or four injuries every year. Callum Wilson has exactly the same problem by the way – he misses far too many games too. If someone comes along and offers them the £70m that they spent to sign him in the first place then they need to think about it.

“I don’t understand how the owners with all their money have come along and bought the club yet they’re not being allowed to spend like Manchester City and Chelsea have done in the past. The reality is that they’re performing badly against FFP regulations and are going to have to sell someone.

“It’s not just a question of quality – I think Isak is that good that he can play for Liverpool or Manchester United for example – but it’s a question of availability too. He’s too injury prone, to the extent that if someone came with a lot of money this summer which gave Newcastle the opportunity to sign someone slightly worse but consistently fit, they’d have to consider that option.”

On a more positive note, Enrique is backing his old side to back another big three points in their bid to secure European football by beating Spurs this weekend. Ange Postecoglou's side come to St James' Park in fourth place and looking to seal Champions League football, but Enrique can see a home win for Eddie Howe's men.

“At St James’ Park, I think Tottenham are going to drop points,” he added. “I can see Newcastle winning this game and I’m going to go with a 2-1 win – I don’t think they will lose the game for sure.”