Alexander Isak was always likely to have a major say on where the Carabao Cup ended up, and his brilliant half-volley in the second half ultimately proved to be the goal that won it for Newcastle.
The Sweden international has been one of the best strikers, if not the best striker, in the Premier League this season – and were Newcastle to sell him this summer, the club would command far more than the $82 million it paid for him three years ago.
Sunday's final was Isak's 100th appearance for the Magpies and he marked it with his 58th goal for the club, one that is unlikely to be beaten for importance for as long as he stays in the North East.
Isak was 22 when he moved to Newcastle from Real Sociedad, a club at which he averaged exactly a goal every three games, and although he was recruited for a club-record fee, he has exceeded all expectations at St. James' Park.
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Newcastle fans might worry about the club's chances of keeping hold of Isak over the next couple of years, particularly if it fails to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Eddie Howe's men are only one point off fifth place in the Premier League, and a top-five finish will almost certainly be enough to secure a spot at European club soccer's top table next term.
If they don't manage to finish in the top five, Isak faces the prospect of not playing in the Champions League in successive seasons, which simply shouldn't be the case for a player of his quality.
Two clubs that will definitely be competing in the Champions League next season are Liverpool and Arsenal, and both teams are likely to be in the market for a new striker in the summer.
Arsenal does not have a dependable source of goals on its team, while Liverpool's only dependable source of goals is wide players. Liverpool is likely to sell Darwin Nunez amid interest from Saudi Arabia, and Isak would be the ideal replacement.
It would undoubtedly take a club-record fee just to make Newcastle consider selling Isak, and it was reported by The Athletic's David Ornstein earlier this month that Newcastle may only sell for £150 million ($194 million).
Only two players have ever moved for a higher transfer fee than that (Neymar and Kylian Mbappe), and spending that amount of money on one player is likely to be unviable for Liverpool this summer, but he would guarantee goals and if there's any kind of player that it is worth breaking the bank for, it's a prolific goalscorer.
