Alan Shearer declared that Newcastle should "cash in" on Alexander Isak if they could not turn his head - but even though the striker remains determined to join Liverpool, the club's decision-makers have now made clear to him that he is going absolutely nowhere. The Sweden international remains a target for the Reds and has been training alone having played no part in pre-season.
Newcastle have already knocked back a mammoth £120million offer from Liverpool for their prized asset. Isak was notably absent from the Magpies' pre-season Asian tour, instead choosing to maintain his fitness at former club Real Sociedad. The 25-year-old has returned to Newcastle's Benton training facility but was conspicuously missing from Friday's 2-2 stalemate against Espanyol.
Premier League legend Shearer, speaking before Newcastle blocked a move, predicted the club's transfer market struggles could leave the striker stranded on Tyneside.
"The biggest thing they have to do is, somehow, sort the Isak situation out - and if they can't get anyone in, I guess that means he isn't going anywhere," Shearer told Betfair.
"Eddie will have to be at his persuasive best to try and turn Isak's head around because it has been turned in terms of him wanting to go to Liverpool.
"On the proviso that he does want to go and Eddie can't turn his head, then you get the money. But prior to that, you have to get people in to replace him."
Newcastle missed out on Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United having already lost out on Bryan Mbeumo to the Red Devils. The Magpies were also denied Liam Delap and Joao Pedro by Chelsea while Hugo Ekitike chose Liverpool over Eddie Howe's side.
Despite these setbacks, Newcastle have managed to secure Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest and have welcomed goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on loan after James Trafford chose Manchester City instead.
Shearer added: "Why can't Newcastle get business done? I don't know whether it's to do with the fact they don't have a chief executive or sporting director.
"They've known for months now that the chief executive was leaving so I'm pretty surprised that one hasn't been announced as yet.
"The sporting director left a couple of months ago now and they've known that, so that's a big surprise that those spaces haven't been filled. Whether that has anything to do with Newcastle's lack of business and the number of players that have said no to them, I don't know. It's not a good look."
Discussing Isak's future, Howe said on Friday night: "We've had discussions and it's clear at the moment we can't have him involved with the group. I don't know how long that will be for. It's clear I can't involve him with the team at the moment.
He is training later than the rest of the squad. There have been discussions since the tour. I don't think disciplinary action has happened.
"He is here, so of course he has a future at Newcastle. From our perspective, we would love to have him back with the team, but the situation has to be right for that to happen."