Swedish goal machine Alexander Isak was left out of Newcastle’s squad when the team lost 4-0 to Celtic on Saturday.
Newcastle set a new price that Liverpool will have to match if they want to sign Alexander Isak this summer. Isak, 25, has been the subject of interest from Liverpool this week, while the two clubs are also battling it out for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, who now looks set to join Liverpool despite an alleged £70m bid from Newcastle.
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Interest in Isak seemed to have waned, but earlier today, the Swedish international was left out of Eddie Howe’s squad for the match against Celtic in Glasgow, Scotland, which ended 4-0 to the home side.
Wanted to protect Isaac from speculation
It was first reported that the reason for his absence had nothing to do with the player’s future, and the club insisted that the decision was made to limit his playing time ahead of the season due to a recurring groin injury.
But Howe increased the speculation – and panic among Newcastle fans – with a strange post-match interview at Celtic Park.
“It was my decision,” Howe said.
“He went back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home because of the speculation surrounding him. The last thing he wants is to sit in the stands and watch, it wasn’t fair to him. But I’m sure he’ll be a Newcastle player when the transfer window closes.”
He added:
“Yes, I’ve had conversations with him, but it’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been very good, he has trained very well and I understand that there will be rumours around him.”
Newcastle hold on to £150m
Later on Saturday, The Telegraph reported that the English league champions were willing to pay £120 million for Isak.
But Newcastle are strictly sticking to their £150 million valuation, despite the fact that it was previously widely reported that the club considered him worth £120 million.
Newcastle’s alleged valuation of Isak is higher than the highest transfer fee ever paid by a Premier League club – currently £106 million, which Chelsea paid to Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in 2023.
Howe calls Isak “replaceable” after poor performance
Newcastle have only signed one first-team player so far this summer, with Anthony Elanga joining from Nottingham Forest for a transfer fee of £52m.
After the team’s poor performance in Glasgow, Howe described Isak as “replaceable”.
“I would say we have some players who are irreplaceable,” Howe said.
“Your best players are so hard to find. They are so difficult to recruit and develop to that level. Once you have them, you have to value them. We as a support system acknowledge his talent and abilities. We are desperate to keep him as part of our team.”
“It’s hard for me to sit here and give 100% clarity if someone is playing. I would never do that. This is football, and you never know what might happen. All I can say is that Alex loves Newcastle, he loves the players, the support staff and the team.”
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