Eddie Howe says he is unable to guarantee Alexander Isak will be at Newcastle next season.
Isak has again topped the club's scoring charts this season with 27 goals in 41 matches, but missed Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal with a groin injury.
It is the Gunners who are desperate to sign the Swedish star, but know Newcastle can demand a transfer fee far in excess of the club-record £105million outlay for Declan Rice two years ago.
It has been suggested that Isak will look to leave Newcastle should they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season, though are in pole position to do so with one game of the Premier League season to go.
And when asked this weekend, as his team lost to Arsenal, if Isak will definitely be a Newcastle player next season, Howe said: "I never make those guarantees about any player.
"It's not to do with Alex's future, I'd be foolish to sit here and do anything like that."
He continued: "We want to keep our strongest players. I have said that as long as I've sat in this seat.
"We have to keep our strongest players and bring in more good players to make us stronger because of the ambition of the club and everybody connected with its long-term success.
"That's the only way we can try to get that."
