'Very happy' - Alexander Isak announcement confirms return date amid Newcastle United & Liverpool saga
Stay at Newcastle United or go to Liverpool? This time next week, Alexander Isak’s future will have been decided.
Alexander Isak is set to make his first appearance of the 2025-26 season.
But it won’t be for Newcastle United amid his continued refusal to play in an attempt to force through a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.
It will instead be for his national team, Sweden, after he was named in Jon Dahl Tomasson’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo.
Alexander Isak refusing to play for Newcastle United
Isak hasn’t played a match of any kind since May 25, when the Magpies lost 1-0 to Everton on the final day of last season but still qualified for the Champions League due to results elsewhere.
The 25-year-old started pre-season with his Newcastle teammates in Austria but then didn’t travel for the tour of Asia after having his head turned by Liverpool.
And Isak hasn’t been with the squad since, having entered a self-imposed exile that has seen him train alone and miss the opening two Premier League matches against Aston Villa and Liverpool.
The striker released a statement last Tuesday, accusing Newcastle of breaking promises before concluding that “the relationship can’t continue”. The Magpies refuted suggestions that Isak was told he could leave and played down the possibility of a sale.
For Isak to be allowed to depart, Newcastle want to sign two strikers but have so far been able to recruit none, having suffered knockbacks from the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko.
It must also be said that Liverpool haven’t returned with an improved offer since seeing an opening bid of £110million rejected on August 1.
Alexander Isak set for first appearance of 2025-26 when his future will be decided
Newcastle co-owner Jamie Reuben and PIF delegate Jacobo Solis met with Isak at his home in the hours leading up to Monday’s 3-2 defeat to Liverpool to try and convince him to return to first-team training.
But there has been little progress and Eddie Howe’s side will once again be without Isak for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Leeds United. Will Osula is in line to lead the attack, with Anthony Gordon suspended for the next three domestic matches after his red card.
Sweden’s first game is against Slovenia on Friday, September 5 and by that point, Isak will know if he’s still in black and white or wearing the red of Liverpool with the summer transfer window closing on Monday.
Sweden boss explains Alexander Isak inclusion amid Newcastle United stand-off
Explaining the decision to include Isak in the squad, Tomasson said: “I am very happy that Alexander Isak wants to be in the squad, he is a huge player.
“The situation he is in is not perfect and he has not trained with the team. But he is a player who can decide matches and he wants to be part of our squad, the World Cup is important for Alexander Isak.”
After Slovenia, Tomasson’s side then travel to Kosovo on Monday, September 8. The Magpies host Wolverhampton Wanderers the following weekend and if Isak is still at the club, it is hoped the striker can be involved.
Alternatively, Isak could be lining up for Liverpool at Burnley the next day. All eyes are on what happens before Tuesday’s 11pm transfer deadline.