Alexander Isak remains in isolation at Newcastle United's Benton training ground, with manager Eddie Howe indicating that the Swedish striker is unlikely to play in the Premier League opener against Aston Villa. While situations can change rapidly in football, Howe admitted over the weekend that persuading Isak to don the black-and-white strip has been challenging.
The Magpies are actively seeking a new forward to fill Isak's shoes, with Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis being the latest name suggested by intermediaries. However, Newcastle have yet to receive an improved offer for Isak, having swiftly rejected Liverpool's £110million bid on August 1. Rumours suggest that a heftier bid of around £150m, or possibly £130m plus add-ons, could lead to a breakthrough. Until then, Isak has been given an ultimatum by the Magpies: no substantial offer means no transfer.
Newcastle now head into their Premier League curtain-raiser without the player who netted 27 goals for them last term and fired them into the Champions League.
Pictures of Isak have been stripped from the club shop, and whilst Newcastle were stationed in South Korea, Adidas staff revealed that sales of the new jersey bearing the striker's name plummeted instantly once he failed to board the flight to the Far East.
Isak had previously served as the face of the new third kit unveiling earlier this summer, even featuring in Adidas promotional material alongside club icon Tino Asprilla at the Tyneside Irish Centre, but that was well before his representative swayed his thinking.
Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton continue to be favoured picks among supporters, but there's optimism that a fresh attacking signing could restore some of the diminishing merchandise revenue.
However, on the training pitch, Howe must press ahead without his star performer, and whilst his unavailability represents a significant challenge in preparations, Howe acknowledged that maintaining squad spirit is equally crucial.
He remarked: "I think the group has been disrupted, of course, but I think whenever you have a player in this situation, it's unsettling for the team.
"I don't think we've been in that position since I've been here, the harmony and togetherness of the group has been at its highest, so I think naturally it's just been a topic of conversation, it's been a distraction and the biggest hit we've taken is we're not blessed with a number of players in his position, so I think you've seen a big gap.
"But 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."
This leaves Newcastle in a difficult position ahead of the Villa match, with Anthony Gordon's effort against Atletico Madrid failing to yield a goal and Joelinton missing several opportunities.
Howe was even asked if he'd consider asking the Brazilian to play striker again this season, given that the former No. 9 was converted to a midfielder by Howe, but this suggestion was dismissed by the head coach with a laugh.
When asked if Isak could still be roused to return at Villa Park, Howe simply said: "I don't see that changing before Aston Villa, the current situation we're in."