Alexander Isak is training alone at Newcastle United’s Benton base this pre-season. Manager Eddie Howe has given the Swedish striker a clear ultimatum: without a serious transfer offer, Isak will not return to the team. This comes as Liverpool steps up their interest with a big-money bid.
Isak’s situation has become a major story ahead of Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa. Howe made it clear that getting Isak back in the squad has been difficult. “If it was possible, it would have happened by now,” Howe said. The striker is not expected to play the opening match.
Newcastle United are actively looking for a new striker to replace Isak. One name linked with the club is Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis, but several other options are also being considered. The club needs a fresh forward to fill the gap left by their top scorer from last season.
Liverpool’s latest offer for Isak came on August 1. It was a massive £110 million bid, but Newcastle rejected it quickly, according to reports from Chronicle Live. Now, Liverpool may increase their offer to around £130 million with add-ons or even as high as £150 million.
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Despite the high stakes, Isak has been told there will be no transfer without a serious bid. Until then, the door is open for him to return to training and play for Newcastle, though he has shown no interest in doing so during pre-season.
This uncertainty affects the team deeply. Isak scored 27 goals last season and helped Newcastle reach the Champions League for the first time. Losing him, even temporarily, leaves a huge hole in the squad.
Newcastle fans have also noticed Isak’s absence off the pitch. Pictures of the striker have been removed from the club shop, and sales of the new Newcastle jersey with his name have dropped sharply. Adidas staff revealed to the Newcastle Chronicle that sales plummeted after Isak missed the team’s trip to South Korea.
Isak was once the face of the club’s new third kit launch and featured in Adidas advertisements alongside club legend Tino Asprilla. But all of that changed after his agent pushed for a move away from Newcastle.
While Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton remain popular with fans, the club hopes bringing in a new striker will boost both the team’s performance and merchandise sales.
On the training ground, Howe faces a tough challenge. The team is missing its star forward, and the group’s focus has been shaken. Howe said, “I think the group has been disrupted, of course, but I think whenever you have a player in this situation, it’s unsettling for the team.”
He added that despite the situation, team harmony has remained strong. “I don’t think we’ve been in that position since I’ve been here. The harmony and togetherness of the group has been at its highest.”
Howe described the transfer saga as “a distraction” and admitted the team has lost a key player in Isak’s position. “You’ve seen a big gap,” he said.
Still, Howe praised the players for continuing to train hard. “Training has been of a really high level,” he said. “I haven’t seen a negative output on the pitch, but I am aware of the feeling around the group that there’s something there that’s not to the benefit of the group.”
Newcastle now faces a critical moment. They start the season without their top scorer mentally ready to play and with questions hanging over Isak’s future. Meanwhile, Liverpool pushes to secure one of the most expensive transfers in recent Premier League history.
The coming weeks will show if Newcastle can find a replacement and if Isak will finally make the move to Liverpool. Fans watch closely, hoping for good news but preparing for uncertainty.
This transfer drama highlights the pressure on clubs and players in modern football. Money talks loudly, but team spirit and fan loyalty remain powerful forces. For now, Isak’s future hangs in the balance, and Newcastle must adapt quickly to life without their star striker.
