Newcastle United still want to re-integrate Alexander Isak, despite his desire to sign for Liverpool.
Isak hasn’t kicked a ball for Newcastle since May, having essentially gone on strike in an attempt to force through a British-record transfer to Premier League champions Liverpool.
But the Magpies continue to insist that Isak is going nowhere after their statement last week said they “do not foresee” the conditions of a sale being met. It came after Isak wrote “when promises are broken and the trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue”.
The Swede missed United’s pre-season tour of Asia and since then has been training alone at the club’s Benton training centre. Head coach Eddie Howe has tried to reintegrate Isak, but he has so far refused.
Fabrizio Romano: When Newcastle United hope Alexander Isak will return to training
But Newcastle hope Isak’s stance will change after the Liverpool clash, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “From Tuesday, we will understand more on the Alexander Isak story, whether he's going to Liverpool or whether Newcastle are going to be able to keep the player at the club and change his mind.
“Newcastle internally hope that this week after the game Alexander Isak can return to training. Newcastle really hope that. Newcastle internally have this feeling that they want to convince Alexander Isak to be back in training after the game on Monday.
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“Liverpool remain in position, they want Isak, they will attack for Isak, but it depends on Newcastle. This story I told you since completely depends on Newcastle. Isak wants to go to Liverpool, Isak wants to play for Liverpool, Liverpool want to go for Isak, Liverpool are prepared to pay, but Newcastle are the ones who decide and Newcastle will try their best to keep the player.
“Let's see what kind of week will be after the game on Monday, but Newcastle internally, the technical staff of Newcastle hope that Alexander Isak can be back in training already in this upcoming week ahead of the end of the transfer window.”
Eddie Howe on reintegrating Alexander Isak
Howe has been consistent in his message that he wants Isak back with the squad but when asked about the process of reintergating the striker, he said: “I think that's probably a conversation for another day. At the moment, that is not an option for us, so rather than talk hypotheticals, I'd rather talk when we get there, when we get to that point.
“And then, of course, we'll enter that phase and see what we need to do to try and get the best for Alex, get the best for the team, which is always the priority. But until that point, I think we're best focusing on the players we have available for the next game.”
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