Crunch time: Alexander Isak
The Swede had flown to Spain to train by himself at former club Real Sociedad’s facility while his current team-mates were on pre-season tour in Asia.
The striker had ruled himself out of the tour citing a thigh injury, although speculation continued to rumble on about whether he would remain on Tyneside beyond the summer transfer deadline.
The Magpies are reportedly after a fee in the region of £150m if they are to sell their talisman, and Eddie Howe’s side have already made moves in an attempt to sign a replacement, as they submitted an offer to RB Leizpig for Benjamin Sesko on Saturday.
Isak wants to make the switch to Anfield, and will now have an opportunity for face-to-face talks after it was revealed that he had jetted back into Newcastle following his Spanish escapade.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Saturday that - despite contrary reports - Liverpool were considering a second bid, and were prepared to “insist” for the striker.
Sky Sports report that Isak had touched down at Newcastle airport on Saturday afternoon, and he is due in for training alongside his colleagues on Monday, when they return from Asia.
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Newcastle are also interested in Yoane Wissa, the Brentford striker, and made a £25m bid for the Conogolese last month, which was turned down by Brentford.
The Bees’ head coach Keith Andrews told Sky Sports after his side’s pre-season friendly against Queens Park Rangers that Wissa’s situation - similar to that of Isak’s - was also “not ideal”, and he confirmed that the forward had indeed departed Brentford’s pre-season camp in Lisbon prematurely in order to hold talks with the club’s hierarchy.