Alexander Isak to Liverpool: Everything we know as star striker eyes Newcastle United exit
Newcastle United will sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool - on two conditions.
Will he stay or will he go? Alexander Isak’s future at Newcastle United is hitting world headlines.
It’s no secret that Isak wants to leave St James’ Park this summer and join Premier League champions Liverpool. But there is still a lot needed for that to become a reality. Here, NewcastleWorld answers several key questions on the Isak saga so far and how it might play out.
Why did Alexander Isak miss Newcastle United’s pre-season tour of Asia?
Isak was absent from Newcastle’s opening pre-season friendly against Celtic on July 19. Head coach Eddie 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.
Has Alexander Isak gone AWOL?
By travelling to San Sebastian, there were questions over whether Isak had gone AWOL in an attempt to force a move to Liverpool. Even Howe admitted he didn’t know of Isak’s whereabouts until reading about it in the media.
“I know where he is, really, through the media,” Howe said on Saturday. “From that perspective, it’s difficult for me to go into any kind of detail. The situation is far from ideal and is quite complex.”
On the day of Howe’s above comment, Isak returned to Tyneside and on Monday was spotted back at the club’s Benton training ground. The rest of the squad return to the training ground on Wednesday after they were handed Monday and Tuesday off as a result of 10 hard days in the Far East.
How much have Liverpool bid for Alexander Isak?
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 Newcastle head coach Eddie 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.
Liverpool last week banked £65million from the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, while they are open to selling Darwin Nunez as he attracts interest from clubs around Europe and the Saudi Pro League.
Arne Slot’s side have spent around £250million, including a British record £116million on Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. They’ll have to quickly break the British record again to sign Isak.
Will Newcastle United sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool?
The answer is yes, but on two conditions. Firstly, Newcastle must find a replacement for the Swede and at present are pushing hard to sign Red Bull Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
The Magpies have tabled a club-record bid worth at least £70million with the Slovenian keen on making the move. Manchester United have also held talks with Leipzig but are yet to make an offer.
A final decision is expected in the next 24 to 48 hours. It was previously thought Old Trafford was Sesko’s preferred destination but the Magpies’ proactive approach could see them edge the Red Devils out.
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.
Is there a chance Alexander Isak will stay at Newcastle United?
Yes, but only if both of the above don’t happen. Ultimately, Isak still has three years left on his contract.
Newcastle have tried to open talks with the Swede over a new contract but those efforts have been knocked back amid Liverpool’s interest. If Isak doesn’t move to Anfield this summer, a new contract could be agreed, though it would likely include a release clause for next year.
Who at Newcastle United will make the final decision on Alexander Isak’s future?
Howe says a final decision regarding Isak will be left up to the club’s board. “I wouldn't put a timescale on it,” Howe said last month. “I think with these situations it has to be right for the football club, and everything then is taken into context below that.
“But the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has, and ultimately to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it's up to us to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can. That’s what we're trying to do, regardless of Alex's situation.
“But I think there's a wider picture here. There's a whole football club that has to make the decision. The ownership, together with the board of directors, especially with the money involved in modern day transfers. The manager of course has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board.”