Wantaway Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is expected to miss the glitzy Professional Footballers’ Association awards gala on Tuesday night, according to a report.
The striker has been nominated for the biggest prize of the night, Players’ Player of the Year, but he will reportedly miss the occasion as his self-imposed exile, in order to force through a move to Liverpool, continues.
Isak was the subject of a £110million bid from Arne Slot’s side last month, which was promptly rejected by the Newcastle hierarchy, who are believed to value Isak at closer to £150m.
The saga began at the beginning of the summer when the talented frontman initially reported an injury to keep him out of the Magpies’ pre-season tour and the stand-off has continued since.
Isak, who has been heavily criticised in the media and by Magpies fans, then missed Newcastle’s 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday, a move that saw him fined by the club. During that clash, he was targeted by supporter chants where he was labelled as a ‘greedy b*****d’.
Despite the constant speculation surrounding his future, Isak hasn’t publicly commented.
Wantaway Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is expected to miss the glitzy Professional Footballers’ Association’s awards gala
The Swedish striker is nominated for the night’s biggest prize but is yet to confirm his attendance
According to a BBC report, the 25-year-old is yet to confirm his attendance with just over 24 hours until the event. The report goes on to claim that sources have indicated that the forward is not planning to be there.
On Saturday, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was unsurprisingly probed on the issue of Isak’s future at every opportunity and he provided an update after the Villa clash.
‘We would like a resolution,’ he said. ‘I am talking about myself, I am sure the ownership, and the players. We need that clarity. You don’t need any distraction.
‘But I am not in control of that. I think only one person really (Isak) can control that.’
He added: ‘This season, any season, every season, is going to be hard enough. You don’t need any kind of distraction to swerve your thoughts, to unbalance what we’re doing.
‘I hope it’s resolved quickly, because it’s news around us all the time. The players have managed to shut that out and perform. We have to continue to do that.’
Of the fan chant aimed at Isak, Howe said: ‘Whatever happens, I think the support has acted really well today because they supported the team, which is always my big ask, to support the team when we’re playing.
‘And they’ve done that unbelievably well in some difficult moments during the four years. And then if afterwards they want to say something, I think they’re very free to do that.’
On Monday, Isak received the backing of his international manager Jon Dahl Tomasson
Howe then reiterated his wish for Isak to return to the squad, and said: ‘Nothing has changed, but the door is well and truly open. But yeah, he has to decide what he wants to do.’
On Monday, Isak received the backing of his international manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, who described him as ‘an extremely professional player’.
‘Situations like this are quite complex,’ Tomasson told Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen. ‘These are extremely complex environments that the players operate in.
‘I’m sure it will work out in the end, but you have to know the whole picture before you draw conclusions. That’s always a good tip.’
