Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has given an update on Alexander Isak’s future at the club amid speculation that he will join Liverpool.
Isak, 25, has not flown out to a tour of the Far East with his team-mates following the transfer links.
Howe has now confirmed that he will not be linking up with the squad, as the Newcastle boss must now contend with the prospect of potentially losing his star player ahead of the new campaign.
The update on the situation from the Magpies boss comes after Mail Sport exclusively revealed earlier this week that Isak wants to explore a move away from the club this summer.
The striker did not travel with the squad on their pre-season tour of the Far East on Thursday after leaving training with a thigh injury on Monday.
However, in a bombshell development, Mail Sport revealed how the club’s hierarchy are aware of Isak’s wish to consider his options this summer, with Liverpool readying a British record offer.
Alexander Isak has not flown out to a tour of the Far East with his team-mates following the transfer links
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has given an update on Isak’s future at the club
Isak has been linked with a move to Premier League champions Liverpool in recent days
The 25-year-old has three years to run on his contract and chief executive Darren Eales said in March that a new deal would be discussed at the end of the season.
For now, though, Isak and his camp do not want to commit, with Liverpool’s interest their priority.
Newcastle’s owners and Howe do not want to sell and the preference would be to negotiate fresh terms, even if that meant a move next summer.
That possibility remains, given Newcastle are in a strong position contractually, but an offer from Liverpool or any club in the region of £150million, coupled with Isak’s own wishes, could see a move accelerate in the coming weeks.
Howe subsequently said that Newcastle have a ‘decision to make’ on the future of Isak – but says it must be for the best of the club.
When asked if he wanted a quick resolution, the Newcastle boss said: ‘I wouldn’t put a timescale on it. I think with these situations it has to be right for the football club, and everything then is taken into context below that.
‘But the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has, and ultimately to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it’s up to us to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can. That’s what we’re trying to do, regardless of Alex’s situation.
‘But I think there’s a wider picture here. There’s a whole football club that has to make the decision. The ownership, together with the board of directors, especially with the money involved in modern day transfers. The manager of course has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board.’
Mail Sport revealed earlier this week that Isak has informed the club that he wants to leave this summer – with Liverpool interested in the 25-year-old
Isak is not currently with his Newcastle team-mates at their pre-season tour of Singapore after reporting a thigh injury
Howe also revealed that no contract talks are taking place with Isak.
‘As far as I’m aware, I don’t think there are any contract talks taking place at the moment,’ he said.
‘That’ll be for a later date potentially. I think for now, with the situation as it is and the state of the window, in the sense that it’s hurtling towards the end of the window very quickly, from our perspective, there’s still so much that could happen.’
Liverpool appear to be favourites to sign the Swede, with Chelsea and Manchester United having ruled out a move for him.
World champions Chelsea have been linked with Isak but the Blues hierarchy are happy with their current set-up, that includes Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson, as well as the versatile Joao Pedro as an option up front.
The internal suspicion is that their name is being used to drive up a price on the 25-year-old striker.
Manager Enzo Maresca plans to lean on rotation in the coming season, especially for managing workloads after their last lengthy campaign, and Chelsea are understood to be unappreciative of them being linked with players they are not actively pursuing for the purpose of creating an auction.
Man United have currently ruled out a move for Isak and number of other big-money options including Jackson and Benjamin Sesko.
Chelsea believe their name is being used to drive up Isak’s price, while Man United are unable to compete with a potential bid from rivals after signing Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha
The Blues are happy with their options after signing Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer
With the Sweden striker valued at an astronomical £150million, United are unable to compete with a potential bid from Liverpool and other Premier League rivals.
They have already spent more than £130m on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha this summer, even though they are keen to sign a new centre-forward.
Jackson is also out of United’s reach after being valued at between £80-100m by Chelsea, although there still a possibility that a swap deal with Alejandro Garnacho could be explored.
Garnacho has been training away from the first-team squad at Carrington in pre-season after being told to find a new club by head coach Ruben Amorim.
