Newcastle United have made a big Alexander Isak decision as speculation over Liverpool transfer intrigue grows.
This week, Magpies boss Eddie Howe said Isak would “absolutely” be part of the squad for games in Singapore and South Korea, but that’s no longer the case.
Liverpool may have completed the £79 million signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, but the Premier League champions are still said to “retain an interest” in Isak according to the Times‘ Paul Joyce.
The Reds remain in pursuit of further attacking reinforcements, with Alexander Isak still a firm target and his absence from Newcastle United’s pre-season tour has only intensified the speculation.
The Magpies released their 29-man squad on Thursday morning ahead of their Far East tour to Singapore and South Korea, but Isak’s name was notably missing.
The Swedish striker, who scored 27 goals in 42 appearances last season, was widely expected to feature in the travelling party, but Newcastle correspondent confirmed he has not travelled due to a minor thigh injury.
However, that explanation hasn’t stopped speculation from growing. Isak was spotted training alone earlier in the week, raising eyebrows among supporters. After being left out of Newcastle’s 4-0 pre-season thrashing to Celtic, manager Eddie Howe broke his silence, making a telling admission post-match.
“It was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him,”
On Tuesday, an image surfaced on social media showing Isak training alone at Newcastle’s Darsley Park training centre. Isak had picked up a thigh strain and went for a scan earlier in the week. While the scan is believed to have come back clear, the striker still trained individually as a precaution.
Reports suggest Newcastle have yet to reach an agreement with the Swede on a lucrative new contract, despite initial discussions dating back to last year. Sources suggest the 25-year-old and his representatives have made clear demands, reportedly seeking an eye watering deal worth £300,000 per week — more than double his current £120,000-a-week salary.
Isak’s camp has been firm on those wage expectations, leaving Newcastle in a difficult position. The club remains publicly adamant that the Swedish international is not for sale this summer, but the failure to tie him down to new terms has left the door open.
Newcastle’s stance hasn’t deterred Liverpool, however, who retain long-standing interest in the forward. The Reds believe Isak’s pace, technical ability and clinical edge could significantly enhance their attack, particularly as they prepare for a gruelling season defending their Premier League crown and competing in the Champions League.
Richard Hughes and Micheal Edwards recruitment strategy has already made headlines, with Ekitike becoming their seventh signing of the summer and pushing their total outlay past £250 million mark.
Despite that spending spree, the club is still exploring ways to strengthen the squad further, especially with uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of other forwards such as Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez and a desire to stay competitive at the highest level.
While Newcastle continue to downplay any intentions to sell, Liverpool are carefully monitoring developments and ready to move if the opportunity arises. Any deal for Isak would likely surpass £120 million, a figure that would set a new record for both clubs.
Until then, Isak’s absence from the tour and Howe’s comments have only added fuel to the fire and with the window still open, this story is far from over.
