Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has said that "the door is well and truly open" for Alexander Isak to make himself available for selection once again.
The Sweden international missed Newcastle's opening match of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign - a goalless draw against Aston Villa - amid the speculation surrounding his future.
Isak is currently training away from the first-team squad at Newcastle after informing the club that he wants to leave this summer, and he was not involved in any of their pre-season friendlies.
The Magpies have already rejected an offer of £110m plus add-ons for Isak from Liverpool this summer, but the Reds are expected to return with a fresh bid before the end of the transfer window.
Newcastle had 16 attempts against Villa but were unable to find the back of the net, with Isak certainly a big miss, and Howe was asked about the situation after the goalless draw.
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak pictured on April 2, 2025
Howe: 'Isak needs to decide what he wants to do'
“It’s a difficult one to answer. I hope it’s resolved quickly, because it’s news around us all the time. Players have managed to shut that out and perform. We have to continue to do that. We have to cope without the narrative against us," Howe told TNT Sports shortly after the full-time whistle at Villa Park.
In his later press conference, Howe was again asked about Isak, telling reporters; "The door is well and truly open, but he (Isak) needs to decide what he wants to do. We’d like a resolution, we need that clarity. I’m not in control of it, but only one person is. I’ve made my stance pretty clear.”
Isak has returned to Newcastle's training base, but he will not be involved with the first team until his future is clarified, with the Magpies still hopeful that he can be talked into staying for at least one more season.
Brentford's Yoane Wissa could soon make the move to St James' Park, but Newcastle had always been planning to bring in a forward this summer regardless of the situation with Isak.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring against Ipswich Town, on April 26, 2025
Will Isak return for Newcastle's next game against Liverpool?
The fact that Newcastle's next game is against Liverpool on August 25 only adds to the intrigue surrounding the Swede, who is clearly determined to force a move to Anfield.
It will be up to Isak to decide whether he wants to be back involved in first-team training ahead of this match, but it is difficult to imagine the striker altering his stance at this stage of proceedings.
Liverpool will have to pay in the region of £130m to sign Isak before the end of the transfer window, but it is unlikely that a move will occur ahead of the meeting between the two sides on August 25.
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