Newcastle United are set to make a crucial decision regarding Alexander Isak, with manager Eddie Howe expected to meet the Swedish striker for the first time in two weeks. This comes amidst rumours of Benjamin Sesko favouring Manchester United over Newcastle, although no final decision has been communicated from the RB Leipzig star as yet.
Despite the urgency to sign Sesko or another centre-forward, Howe is focusing on potentially reintegrating Isak into the senior squad. The Chronicle claim that Howe initially wanted Isak to train with the rest of the team ahead of matches against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid in the Sela Cup at St James' Park.
Howe isn't worried about any potential hostility towards Isak from his teammates, with both Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon expressing sympathy for the striker in recent interviews. Regardless of the ongoing Isak and Sesko situations, Howe is keenly aware of the need to set the right tone as Newcastle prepare to face their fans at St James' Park in games against the two La Liga teams, marking the first home appearance since May for more than 100,000 Magpies supporters.
Howe has chosen not to conduct a pre-match press conference before the two upcoming matches, but will address the media afterwards. This means there will be no official comments on Isak prior to the Espanyol match, although it's understood that Howe intends to play the striker, fitness permitting.
Should Isak be absent, it could plunge Newcastle into another transfer controversy and add fuel to the fire following his agent Vlado Lemic's attempts to manoeuvre his player away from St James' Park behind the scenes.
The stark reality is that Isak, influenced by Lemic, has his sights set on Liverpool, a fact not lost on Newcastle. The longer Newcastle can delay finding a replacement, the more difficult they can make it for both Liverpool and Isak, leaving the door open for the Swedish striker to don the black and white shirt once more.
Howe has so far refrained from taking a hard line with his striker, aware he may need to rely on him in the near future. However, Newcastle are still actively seeking a top-tier forward, despite challenges surrounding Isak and Sesko.
Inside sources at St James' Park confirm that funds are available for transfers, with PSR issues now resolved.
Howe said last week: "We are looking at the best players we can get. We are only looking at the best we can get, I see all situations open and available to us. I feel that is the only way we are going to get where we want to go, which is to maximise quality over quantity.
"It has been a challenging summer as you know. We have missed out on loads of different targets for different reasons. But we are still very competitive and we are still in there trying to bring good players to the club, that won't change until the window shuts."
Newcastle United's search for top talent could lead them to Paris St-Germain striker Gonccalo Ramos, previously pursued from Benfica, but the Champions League victors demand no less than €60m.
The Magpies retain interest in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Brentford's Yoane Wissa, yet Howe acknowledges they don't quite match the profile needed as an Isak alternative; they would be seen more as Callum Wilson's successors.
With the transfer deadline looming and Sesko potentially heading to Man United, Newcastle faces a tight squeeze to secure a striker before their fixture against Aston Villa.
Before departing Seoul, Howe shared his concerns: "There's not much time left (to get a player in for Villa). Especially when you consider you have to get any player up to speed with how we play, whoever comes in.
"And get into the intricacies of what we do. It is not easy and it is not easy for people to do that straight away.
"We are still active in the market and looking for players."
Despite Newcastle's lack of a sporting director or CEO, insiders maintain that with PIF officials at their side, Howe has the ability to secure swift decisions from the higher-ups, and internally, the club's ambition remains beyond reproach.