Newcastle take hard stance on Isak transfer despite Howe admission | OneFootball

Newcastle United will reportedly block Alexander Isak from leaving the club in the summer transfer window amid interest from Liverpool.

The striker has been training away from the first-team squad since his return to the training ground on Monday, after telling the Magpies that he wants to explore his options.

Newcastle are extremely reluctant to let their star player leave ahead of the new season and rejected a £110 million bid from Liverpool last week.

Newcastle United take hard stance on Alexander Isak transfer to Liverpool

Isak has been told that he is “not for sale” and “will not be allowed” to join the Reds, according to The Telegraph.

This has not gone down well with the Sweden international, who is “refusing to accept the decision with good grace”. He has refused to sign a new contract with the club as the transfer saga drags on.

Isak has missed all of Newcastle’s pre-season fixtures to date, training alone at former club Real Sociedad’s facilities while the team was on tour in Asia. He “will not play for the club” until he accepts that a move is not on the cards this summer.

Liverpool do not plan on making another offer for the centre-forward until Newcastle change their stance on a potential deal, but that is said to be “extremely unlikely”.

Head coach Eddie Howe confirmed on Saturday that Isak will almost certainly miss next weekend’s Premier League season opener against Aston Villa.

“I’d want Alex to be playing today, I’d want him training tomorrow,” he said. “We would love the player to be with us – let me make that absolutely clear. There’s no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome.

“But I don’t see that changing before Aston Villa, the current situation we’re in.”

Howe revealed that he has been in talks with Isak to resolve the matter, but until then he will be training away from rest of the squad.

“We’ve had discussions and it’s clear at the moment we can’t have him involved with the group,” said Howe.

“I don’t know how long that will be for. It’s clear I can’t involve him with the team at the moment.

“He is training later than the rest of the squad. There have been discussions since the tour. I don’t think disciplinary action has happened.”

Read – Sesko explains why he chose Man Utd over Newcastle transfer

Asked whether Isak still has a future at St James’ Park, Howe responded: “He is here, so of course he has a future at Newcastle. From our perspective, we would love to have him back with the team, but the situation has to be right for that to happen.

“He doesn’t have a fitness issue. I’m aware of a feeling within the squad that there’s something there not to the benefit of the group.”

Despite The Telegraph’s report, Howe admitted that Newcastle are not necessarily in a position to stand their ground in and refuse to sell Isak.

“I don’t think it’s that straightforward, otherwise we’d have done that a long time ago. I don’t think we’re in a position to do that currently.

“I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t think that’s right. I think I’ve said enough.”

Read – Newcastle turn to 27-goal forward in striker search

See Also – Liverpool boss Slot coy on Alexander Isak interest

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