Newcastle United will play Celtic in a pre-season friendly.placeholder image
Newcastle United will play Celtic in a pre-season friendly. | Getty Images
Newcastle United players have spoken to Alexander Isak about his situation.
Isak has told Newcastle he wants to leave this summer and join Liverpool, who, after making an informal approach a fortnight ago, submitted an opening bid worth £110million plus add-ons on Friday.
The offer was rejected by the Magpies, whose price tag is £150m. There is also the added complication of Eddie Howe’s side needing to line up a replacement before sanctioning any potential deal.
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Alnwick Castle & Bailiffgate Hotel sponsors of National World NUFC pre-season tour coverage. | Alnwick Castle
Senior Newcastle United teammates encourage Alexander Isak to stay
Isak is currently in Spain training at former club Real Sociedad after sitting out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea. A “minor thigh injury” is the official reason, but some believe it is an attempt to force an exit.
The situation is set to become clearer when Eddie Howe’s squad return to England on Monday. That is when Isak will be expected to report back to the club’s training ground ahead of further talks.
According to The Athletic, Newcastle have tried to tie the Swede down to an improved contract, which would include a release clause next summer. Senior teammates are also said to have encouraged the striker to stay, however, as it stands, his stance remains unchanged.
Will Liverpool return with a second bid for Alexander Isak?
How the player acts from now on will be key, as will Newcastle’s summer transfer business. Adding the two together, the Magpies may still loosen their stance on Isak but it will still be up to Liverpool to meet his valuation.
What Eddie Howe has said about Alexander Isak’s situation?
Speaking about the Isak situation on Tuesday, Howe said: “He is still our player. He’s contracted to us. We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us. My wish is that he stays, but that’s not in my full control.”
Last week, Howe also said: “I wouldn't put a timescale on it. 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.”
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