Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle United will become clearer in the coming days
Andrew Musgrove is Social Media Editor for the North East and Yorkshire (Sport). He joined us in December 2016 from the Burton Mail where he was a news reporter. Andrew leads our award-winning Newcastle United show - The Everything is Black and White Podcast. He previously was responsible for live blogging all Newcastle games before moving into heading up the social media strategy across the region for our sports pages.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Newcastle United FC.
Alexander Isak is attracting interest across the Premier League(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Will Alexander Isak still be a Newcastle United player beyond this month? It's anyone's guess, in truth.
The St James' Park faithful are waiting with bated breath as Eddie Howe reunites with the Swede on Tyneside this week.
Will Isak have a change of heart? Should the gaffer welcome him back into the fold immediately? Just what do the Magpies do next when it comes to their superstar striker?
We put the question to our Chronicle Live team for their verdict.
Lee Ryder
Get him back on the training field, put an arm around him and make sure that he's leading the line against Aston Villa. Nobody is bigger than the club but why damage United's chances of a good start to the season by letting Isak fade into the shadows?
It makes no sense and merely puts his value down if he's not on the field scoring goals. Newcastle can't get a striker deal over the line and time is running out rapidly.
I'm totally surprised by Isak's attitude given his previous vows to the club and will be even more surprised if a pathway back to the first team is being blocked.
The bigger picture tells us all Isak is not going to be here long-term. But unless a bid is over the line, not using him to do what he is being paid for is madness.
In truth, we have not had any official explanations yet and with no Press conference on the horizon until Friday night at the earliest, this drama may have a few more twists and turns.
Get him back up to speed and make him play. At the minute he's Newcastle's best player.
Aaron Stokes
If we were having this conversation in June, my answer may be different - but with less than one month to go until the closure of the transfer window, I'm hoping Newcastle United find a way to persuade Alexander Isak to stay.
Some fans may be ready to wash their hands with the sulking Swede but for me, personally, there is certainly a way back for Isak should he desire it. Eddie Howe will likely feel the same too.
The 25-year-old, on his day, ranks as one of the best in world football and there is no conceivable way Newcastle find a like-for-like replacement, of the same quality and in their price range, this summer. Or next summer, to be honest.
Write this off as a blip. Hope Eddie can speak some sense into him. Pray Liverpool don't come back in with an improved offer. Let us have one positive this summer - and that being Isak pulling a U-turn on wanting to explore other options.
Time is running out and Newcastle will struggle to get two strikers through the door before August is out should Isak go.
Keeping him and hoping he re-finds his old love for the black and white stripes is arguably the safest option at this stage of the summer.
Andrew Musgrove
I don't see how there is a way back for Alexander Isak but worryingly for Newcastle United, if they can't bring in two quality strikers then Eddie Howe has to somehow reintegrate him back into the squad. My worry is, can Isak be trusted to be fully committed to United once more? History has proven that players can come back from this situation but the way Isak and his representatives have gone about it, really does raise doubts in my mind that keeping him at St James' Park against his will is a good idea.
In ideal world United go and sign two top centre-forwards. You're never going to replace Isak, he is the best around, so instead Newcastle need to bring a pair who collectively can elevate the squad or at the very least replace the Swede.
Yoane Wissa and Ollie Watkins would do that for me but given they are both close to the magic 30, that won't happen. In reality, I think Isak stays but it's not out of choice from his or the club's side - it's simply because United's search for his replacement has gone the same way the rest of the window has.
Ross Gregory
Rewind to March 29 of this year. It's not that long ago but in many ways feels like an eternity.
More than 300,000 people descended on Newcastle's city centre to pay tribute to the players and management after 56 years of hurt was ended.
Alexander Isak was beaming, as were all the players. The Swede took centre stage at times, winding Bruno Guimaraes up to make his infamous sweary outburst on stage. All seemed perfect. A team full of superstars, united on and off the pitch. Champions League qualification was to be secured too in a dream season.
Fast forward four months and Isak is training alone, having pushed for a move to Liverpool, and the squad looks weaker than it did that amazing day at Wembley. Newcastle are in a bind and there is only one option now, for me.
Given time is running out, and with the Benjamin Sesko deal having apparently fallen through, then it is time for Newcastle to come out and say that Isak will not be sold. It may be unpalatable to many fans who probably don't want to see him again in a black and white shirt but they have to be firm - there just isn't enough time to get a world-class replacement in. £150m won't score goals when it's sat in the bank.
It's time to draw a line in the sand. Tell him - and Liverpool - he's going nowhere and then trust Eddie Howe to mend the relationship and get him back on board. The joy of that day on the Town Moor may never be replicated but Newcastle can still use him until something else comes along.