Alexander Isak wants to leave Newcastle for Liverpool.
A major update on Alexander Isak’s future came just minutes after Manchester United completed the signing of Benjamin Šeško.
Read: ‘World-class potential’ Sesko signs for Manchester United in a huge deal
Isak’s future has dominated the headlines this summer, with the Newcastle striker currently out of first-team training as he tries to force a move to Liverpool.
The Premier League champions saw a bid of around £110 million rejected, with reports claiming they would not make another bid unless Newcastle gave the go-ahead.
Read on F7: Solskjaer has solid reinforcement in place from the Premier League
Eddie Howe’s problems have been exacerbated by the Magpies’ inability to secure their transfer targets this summer, with Šeško becoming the latest player to turn down an offer from St. James’ Park in favour of Old Trafford.
Newcastle had a deal in place for the RB Leipzig striker, but reports suggest that they were always aware that his first choice was to reunite with Ruben Amorim in Manchester.
Just minutes after Šeško’s transfer to the northwest was officially confirmed by United, it seems that Isak’s future is clear.
According to The Telegraph, Newcastle United’s board has informed the Swedish international that he is not for sale and will not be sold this summer.
Newcastle’s decision has reportedly caused “bitterness” and “tension”, with Isak furious about the decision – which is why he is now training separately from the first team.
It is added that Isak will not play for the club until he accepts that he will not be allowed to leave the club this transfer window. The approach is described as “high-risk” by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has stuck to this position all summer.
Howe was asked about Isak’s possible reintegration into the first team and admitted that the striker is unlikely to be involved in their first Premier League game against Aston Villa due to the uncertainty surrounding his future.
The manager also confirmed that Isak is no longer struggling with the injury that kept him out of the pre-season trip to Asia, despite Isak travelling to his former club Real Sociedad’s training facility without Newcastle’s permission.
“We’ve had discussions and it’s clear that we can’t involve him with the group at the moment,” Howe said. “I don’t know how long it will last, but it’s the latest news. I want Alex to play today, I want him to train tomorrow. We would like the player to be with us. Let me be clear: there’s no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome, but I don’t see the situation changing before the Aston Villa game.”
Newcastle are still being linked with a number of strikers, mainly Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, and new reports claim that Porto’s Samu Aghehowa is the latest name on the shortlist after losing opportunities for players such as João Pedro, Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitike.
None of the strikers Newcastle have secured this summer were seen as direct replacements for Isak, according to The Telegraph’s report.
Isak still has a contract until 2027 at St. James’ Park.
