Exclusive:Alexander Isak missing from Newcastle United training amid Liverpool interest
Alexander Isak did not train with his Newcastle United teammates on Wednesday.
Alexander Isak is due at Newcastle United’s training ground later today after missing first-team training this morning.
After sitting out of the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, Isak flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad last week - something head coach Eddie Howe learned through the media - before returning to Tyneside on Saturday.
Isak turned up at Benton on Monday and Tuesday morning to train individually as he recovers from the “minor thigh injury” the club says he has. However, NewcastleWorld understands the Swede was not among the players to arrive at the training ground on Wednesday morning.
Instead, we have learned that Isak is due to arrive later in the day. It is not yet known if the Swede is heading to Benton for transfer talks or continue to train individually, but what is clear is he did not arrive with his teammates, did not train with them and will not attend a pre-planned family event, arranged by Howe for this afternoon.
Alexander Isak wants to leave Newcastle United
The 25-year-old wants to join Premier League champions Liverpool, who saw a £110million bid rejected on Friday, but the Magpies are unwilling to sanction his exit without a replacement, a search which has taken a major blow with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko preferring a move to Manchester United.
Howe’s squad trained for the first time today since returning from South Korea on Monday morning ahead of the St James’ Park weekend double-header against La Liga sides Espanyol and Atletico Madrid.
Eddie Howe sends warning to Alexander Isak
Speaking on Sunday, Howe suggested Isak would have to earn the right to train with his teammates after missing the last fortnight.
In a strong message, Howe told Mail Sport. “You have to earn the right to train with us, We are Newcastle United. The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad - you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here.
“We will make sure that any player does that to earn the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.”
Alexander Isak: The saga so far
Isak was absent from Newcastle’s opening pre-season friendly against Celtic on July 19. Howe said it was to manage his minutes, though he admitted the speculation was part of the reason why the Swede didn’t travel to Glasgow.
Days later, NewcastleWorld then broke the news that Isak had gone for a scan on his thigh and although the results came back clear, the 25-year-old was not among the 30-man squad that travelled to Asia for the club’s tour of Singapore and South Korea.
The injury was the official line for Isak’s omission, though that did not stop the striker from travelling to Spain to train individually at former club Real Sociedad last week.
Liverpool made an informal approach for Isak during Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in Austria during the middle of last month before submitting an official bid worth £110million on Friday. Isak has told the Magpies he wants to leave and join the Premier League champions.
The offer, however, was rejected, as confirmed by Howe, who said: “I was made aware of a bid yesterday (Friday) and that bid was turned down, all before I’d even heard about it. People back in England are dealing with the situation.
“I don’t know what happens next. From our perspective, we still support Alex in every way and my wish is that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.”
Will Liverpool return with another bid for Alexander Isak?
It was suggested Liverpool had walked away from signing Isak after viewing Newcastle’s rejection as “futile”. However, the Reds are expected to return with another bid once the Magpies have signed or at least lined up an Isak replacement.
Secondly, Liverpool must pay what Newcastle deemed acceptable, which is understood to be around the £150million mark. Even with a replacement signed, the Magpies have no plans to agree a cut-price exit.
Newcastle are in a strong Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) position, so remain under no pressure to sell. Isak also has three years left on his contract.