Newcastle United offered Alexander Isak the chance to play but the striker is clearly distracted by transfer talk
Lee Ryder follows Newcastle United home and away as our Chief Newcastle United Writer. Lee has reported on the Magpies from China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and across Europe. Covered England at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak (right) is congratulated by head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak (right) is congratulated by head coach Eddie Howe
(Image: PA)
Newcastle United insiders fear that Alexander Isak has kicked his last ball for the Magpies after attempted clear the air talks behind the scenes.
Isak's head is now considered to be completely turned towards a move to Liverpool, but just to add to the complications, the Reds are yet to submit a second offer.
The Sweden international has been training at Benton on late afternoons, long after the team-mates he won the Carabao Cup with last season have left the building.
Howe held discussions with Isak that the head coach insisted must "remain private" last week, but after the ex-Borussia Dortmund striker did not even take a place in the stands for the friendly against Espanyol and it appears his time is up at St James' Park - unless there is a dramatic U-turn.
It is understood that the prospect of reintegration was put to the 25-year-old in the build-up to Newcastle's friendly double header. But Chronicle Live understands that Isak's reaction to that idea made it impossible for him to be selected - regardless of being fully fit.
The situation behind the scenes has been likened to Moussa Sissoko's return to the club after relegation in 2016.
Back then, Sissoko made it clear that he did not want to star for the Magpies ever again and eventually landed a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Howe is desperately trying to keep squad morale high despite the storm hovering above Newcastle due to Isak's transfer situation and picking the striker could have allowed negativity to seep into the camp just days ahead of the new season.
Protecting team spirit by not forcing the brooding striker to play was also factored into the overall decision to leave him at home for the fifth friendly in a row and Howe is thought to have had no encouragement from Isak that he wanted to play.
Howe even admitted last night: "I have to say, big credit to the players because they've got on with their work, training has been of a really high level. I haven't seen a negative output on the pitch, but I have been aware of feeling around the group that there's something there that's not to the benefit of the group."
Isak won't be involved against Atletico Madrid, and Howe predicted last night he won't, as things stand, face Aston Villa next weekend.
A crowd of over 30,000 on a Friday night is to be applauded, but we all know that it would have been bigger had Newcastle landed marquee signings.
Level 7 was closed, but the upper sections of the Gallowgate and the west corner lay empty on an at times subdued evening. The vibes were never good for this game since it was announced on June 24.
Back then an image of Isak and a headline of "on sale now" had to be hastily taken down and deleted after a major X pile on.
Ironically, Isak was nowhere to be seen on the night in question and while today will be a sell out against Atletico Madrid, Newcastle will have just a week to change the mood on the recruitment front.
With Isak seemingly finished with Newcastle, a replacement and a back-up option in the final third are vital as we move forward.
Failure to get either on board in time for the trip to Villa Park spells serious trouble for the Magpies.