**_LONDON_**: The most important player will be absent when Newcastle host Liverpool at St James’ Park tonight. Alex Isak has made no secret of his desire to swap the Magpies’ black-and-white stripes for the champions’ all-red and to do so before 20.00CET on September 1.
Liverpool have had one bid of £110m rejected by Newcastle who value the Sweden centre-forward at £150m. Isak has accused Newcastle and their Saudi Arabian owners of breaking a promise to sell him if the club qualified for the Champions League.
His 23 goals last season were crucial in seeing Newcastle finish fifth and join the European elite because England earned an extra UEFA ‘performance spot.’
Isak trained during the summer at his old club Real Sociedad with the reluctant agreement of Eddie Howe. Newcastle’s manager has said that he would welcome Isak back to the club this season and that so would the rest of the squad. But he has also said that Newcastle are busily trying to buy a new centre-forward because of both uncertainty over Isak and the free-transfer departure of Callum Wilson for West Ham.
Winger Anthony Gordon played up front in the opening goalless draw at Aston Villa after Newcastle failed with bids for Hugo Etikite, Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro. They have now had a £40m bid rejected by Brentford for Yoane Wissa and Wolves have told them that Jorgen Strand Larsen is not for sale.
Howe said: “We certainly can’t go through the season with no recognised striker. Anthony can play right and left and potentially down the middle but I don’t think anyone can fill Alex’s boots. Alex is a fantastic player, a good person, a good character. He’s contracted to us and my wish is that he would be playing on Monday night with us. But he won’t be and that’s regrettable.”
Liverpool have refused to make any public comment. Manager Arne Slot said: “I am happy with the squad I have but if we think there is a player who can really make us better then this club has always shown they can bring them in. But it needs to be everything we want: right transfer fee, right position and the player wants to come to us.”
An eventual compromise is expected over a British record fee with generous add-ons, probably with only hours to spare.
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