Newcastle United transfer news as Alexander Isak continues to force a move out of Tyneside ahead of the transfer deadline
Alexander Isak after a Newcastle United game
Alexander Isak is in the Sweden squad for the upcoming international break
(Image: PA)
Alexander Isak looks set to return to football next month after he was named in the Sweden squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifier double-header against Slovenia and Kosovo.
The 25-year-old hasn't played a competitive minute for Newcastle United in their first two games of the season. Isak hasn't been available to Eddie Howe since the beginning of July amid speculation over his future.
Isak has attempted to take his future into his own hands by refusing to train. It's understood that the forward wants to leave St James' Park and move to Premier League champions Liverpool.
He missed the summer tour of the Far East due to a muscle problem before continuing his recovery at former club Real Sociedad's training base. A bid of £110 million has been rejected by the Magpies but Liverpool are expected to make a move before the transfer window closes on Monday.
Despite not playing a minute of football this season, Isak has been included in September's forthcoming fixtures in September. Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres, who scored his first two goals in England at the weekend, has also been named.
Isak will join Newcastle teammates Emil Krath and summer signing Anthony Elanga on international duty. A return to Howe's squad continues to be unlikely after talks with co-owner Jamie Reuben and representatives of their majority shareholders, Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund.
They met with the striker and his entourage on Monday in an attempt to rebuild their relationship with a new contract believed to be part of the negotiations. However, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday that Isak remains set on joining Liverpool.
"I’ve not been party to talks on this for a long time now," Howe said after the 3-2 loss to Liverpool. "I’ve been preparing the team and giving all my energy to the players that want to play for Newcastle.
"I think that is where my energy is best put at the moment. We want clarity, we want to move forward, we want the narrative to change because we’re in the start of the season now.
"We’re into the action and we’ve got to get results, and we’ve got to try to focus on what we can control. We’ve given two really, really good performances, we’ve ended up with one point.
"That’s tough for us to take, especially in this moment where you’re looking for positives to cling to. But we battle through and we now go on to Leeds."
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