Newcastle player Alexander Isak wearing sunglasses arrives at the ground prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Everton FC at St James' Park on May 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle player Alexander Isak wearing sunglasses arrives at the ground prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Everton FC at St James' Park on May 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Alexander Isak saga has taken another twist as Newcastle United striker eyes Liverpool move.
Isak has been training alone after sitting out of the club’s pre-season tour of Asia. The Swede spent time in Spain training individually at former club Real Sociedad and since last week has been arriving at the Magpies’ training ground at a separate time from his teammates.
The 25-year-old wasn’t involved in weekend friendlies against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid, and won’t feature in Saturday’s Premier League opener away to Aston Villa.
Isak wants to join Liverpool, who had a £110million bid rejected earlier this month. The Reds say they won’t return with another bid unless Newcastle make progress on signing a replacement.
David Ornstein: Alexander Isak adamant he will never play for Newcastle United again
Newcastle face Aston Villa, Liverpool and Leeds United before the summer window shuts on September 1. But even if Isak doesn’t leave, he has no intention of playing, according to Ornstein.
“The anticipation is that Isak will miss the trip to Villa Park, with his future shrouded in uncertainty,” Ornstein said. “Based on conversations with sources privy to the matter, The Athletic understands Isak is adamant he will never represent Newcastle again.
“Even if Newcastle refuse to sell the 25-year-old Sweden striker and he remains on Tyneside when the transfer window closes, Isak regards his career at St James’s Park as finished and has no desire to reintegrate into the squad.
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“Isak’s perspective is that, after being informed last summer that a new contract would not yet be offered to him — because of Newcastle’s need to comply with football’s financial rules and Isak already having a lucrative deal until 2028 — he made clear it would be his last campaign with the club.
“Some at Newcastle deny that this was expressed and believe the forward planned to discuss the situation, including the possibility of fresh terms, once 2024-25 concluded.
“Last campaign, Isak helped his side win the Carabao Cup and qualify for the Champions League. Two weeks before the season ended, he told Howe of his wish to leave and reiterated this on a call to the manager before flying to Sweden after the club’s final-day defeat by Everton.”
What Eddie Howe said on Alexander Isak’s future
Speaking on Friday, Howe explained: “We've had discussions and it's clear at the moment that we can't involve him with the group. So, yeah, I don't know how long that will be for. That's the latest.
“He's here, of course he has a future at Newcastle. Certainly from our perspective, everyone connected with the club, we would love to see him back with the team. But the situation has to be right for that time.
“I'd want Alex to be playing today. I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us. Let me make that absolutely clear, there is no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome. But I don’t see that changing [the current situation] before Aston Villa.”
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