Newcastle co-owner holds talks with Alexander Isak as Magpies look to reintegrate the wantaway Liverpool target | OneFootball

Newcastle United co-owner Jamie Reuben and a delegation from the club’s Saudi Arabian owners have held direct talks with Alexander Isak at his home.

According to the Daily Mail, they want to reintegrate the wantaway forward into manager Eddie Howe’s squad.

Reuben, alongside Newcastle director Jacobo Solis, met Isak in the build-up to Monday night’s clash with Liverpool at St James’ Park.

The talks were described as a ‘make-up meeting’, with Newcastle eager to end the stand-off after the Sweden international refused to train in a bid to force a move to Anfield.

The Magpies remain determined to keep hold of the 25-year-old, who joined from Real Sociedad in 2022, and are prepared to offer improved terms if he recommits to the club.

Discussions reportedly mentioned the possibility of a new contract if Isak shelves his push to leave before the close of the transfer window.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been pursuing Isak throughout the summer but saw their only bid worth £110 million knocked back.

Newcastle have made clear that any sale would require a British-record offer and the arrival of two replacements, neither of which has materialised.

Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who attended the Liverpool game, was not part of the delegation that visited Isak.

However, he gave his full backing to efforts to bring the player back into the fold.

With no strikers signed and limited time left to secure reinforcements, Newcastle’s hierarchy views retaining Isak as vital to their season.

Monday’s meeting was seen internally as a positive step, although the player’s preference to join Liverpool remains unchanged.

Howe has been forced to plan without his star striker. He fielded an XI without an out-and-out striker in the first two Premier League games of the season, and they have looked toothless.

The Magpies clearly lack a cutting edge and need their talisman in the starting XI. It is now up to the hierarchy to convince him to stay, at least for now.