In the wake of two explosive statements from Alexander Isak and Newcastle, a reporter close to the saga has reiterated the conditions for a sale all but remain the same.
Isak has ostracised himself from Newcastle‘s squad since mid-July as he seeks to force a transfer to Liverpool, who had a reported bid of £110 million rejected at the start of this month.
With no progress on a transfer, Isak released a statement and explained “why change is in the best interest of everyone, not just myself” after promises were broken and trust lost.
Newcastle then responded in turn, insisting “no commitment has ever been made” that he can leave this summer, while also making mention of the “conditions of a sale.”
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, who has been closely reporting on the transfer saga this summer, has reiterated the conditions after Liverpool fans noted that the door had been left ajar.
“Yoane Wissa was seen as the Callum Wilson replacement, not the Alexander Isak replacement,” Downie reports.
“If they were able to land Wissa in the next few days, and I am expecting a bid in the next couple of days, and Liverpool came to the table offering £130 million then Newcastle might have a decision to make.”
He then adds, “If they are unable to bring in Wissa, then Isak will not be going anywhere, and that was what the statement was saying last night.
“If they were to find a gem with two weeks of the window to go, and bring in Wissa and Liverpool came to the table with a significantly higher bid, then I think Isak will be allowed to go.”
Perceptions have changed, but not the conditions
Alexander Isak scores vs. Sunderland in FA Cup. January 2024 (Owen Humphreys/PA)
• READ: Isak “saga will rumble on” as fans say statement “not strong enough”
Thus, nothing has really changed when it comes to Isak’s future, who is relying on his club to secure a replacement without a sporting director at the helm.
Newcastle have so far failed in their attempts to add a forward, having pursued Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.
Eddie Howe’s side are currently attempting to sign Wissa from Brentford, who has also gone on strike to force a move, with reported interest in Chelsea‘s Nicolas Jackson and Wolves‘ Jorgen Strand Larsen.
It all rests on Newcastle‘s desire and ability to procure a replacement before the September 1 deadline, and Liverpool will have a decision to make if they are to bolster their forward options.
Downie concluded his assessment of the situation by saying that Isak’s only chance of leaving is if Newcastle “manage to get two strikers in, which is going to prove really, really difficult, and Liverpool up their offer significantly.”
Secondly, “they manage to bring in Wissa and Liverpool up their offer significantly, I think there’s a small chance of that happening.”
The door has far from closed on the Isak saga as Newcastle‘s statement alluded to, as the conditions for a sale remain, but all rests on the Magpies successfully signing that elusive forward.