Alexander Isak to fly out to Far East after Liverpool interest as Eddie Howe claim speaks volumes

Alexander Isak to fly out to Far East after Liverpool interest as Eddie Howe claim speaks volumes

Alexander Isak is expected on Newcastle United's pre-season tour of the Far East despite attracting interest from Liverpool and ongoing uncertainty about his future

Eddie Howe with Alexander Isak (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images )

Liverpool might be closing in on the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, but that has not stopped speculation about their interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. The Reds have agreed a deal worth up to £79m with the Bundesliga outfit, with the Frenchman set to undergo a medical on Tuesday ahead of finalising his move to Anfield.

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Including the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose £29m switch from Valencia was agreed last summer, the signing of Ekitike will take Liverpool’s spend to just short of £300m.

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But the Reds’ business might not end there with further attacking recruits and a new centre-back also possible arrivals.

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Alexander Isak agent has left door open for Liverpool transfer as intrigue grows READ MORE:

Liverpool are likely to need at least a second new forward, given the ongoing uncertainty regarding the futures of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Federico Chiesa.

Yet having committed to spending up to £79m on Ekitike, the jury is out on whether the Reds would then follow that up by also making a move for Isak - who would cost over £120m.

The Swede’s future remains up in the air regardless, after he was left out of the Newcastle squad for their friendly defeat to Celtic on Saturday. Eddie Howe would confirm such a decision was made in response to the ongoing transfer speculation.

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One of Isak’s agents, Gonzalo Gaitan, would then set tongues wagging and prompt further uncertainty and speculation when admitting that they are weighing up ‘all options’ for the Swede.

“We are indeed studying and analysing all options,” he said in an interview with Saudi Arabian publication Arriyadiyah. “And we may be close to finalising the next step for the player, without revealing any details regarding whether Isak will transfer or stay with Newcastle."

With the uncertainty around Isak’s future stemming from Newcastle’s failure to offer him a new long-term contract with a warranted pay-rise, his representatives are evidently ‘playing the game’ when it comes to their client’s future.

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Fuelling the uncertainty will only strengthen their hand when it comes to deciding the Swede’s future, be it being rewarded with the contract he wants at St. James’ Park or earning a big-money move away.

And off the back of such comments, if we then take a closer look at Howe’s own responses during his various post-match media duties after losing to Celtic, it is clear Isak’s future is by no means as secure as he would like it to be.

While insisting the Magpies had not received a formal approach from Liverpool, he admitted he could not offer 100% clarity on Isak’s future and would only go as far as sharing his belief he will still be a Newcastle player when their season starts on August 16.

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“No, there’s been no formal approach,” he said. “I think it’s difficult for me to give 100% clarity on any player.

“I’d never sit here and do that because it’s football and you never know what can happen. All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team.

“I’ve never had any issue with him other than I’m really enjoying seeing his talent and seeing him express himself. Certainly, I’m confident that he’s going to be here at the start of the season.

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“We have a few players like that who I think are irreplaceable. Your top players are so hard to find, they’re so hard to recruit, they’re so hard to develop and make them into those players.

“So when you have them, you need to treasure him. We certainly, on the staff, recognise his talent and his ability. We are of course desperate to keep him part of our team.

“It was purely the last thing Alex wants if he’s not playing is to be sat in the stand. Being under that scrutiny, I don’t think that’s fair to the player.

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“If he wasn’t going to play today, which we agreed, mutually agreed that he needs a little bit more training time, then it’s best he’s not here.”

Howe would also confirm it had been his decision to send Isak home as he admitted he had spoken to the strike about his future.

“I chose to send him home,” he said. “The last thing Alex wants if he is not playing is to be sat in the stand and under that scrutiny, then if he wasn't going to play today, we mutually agreed he shouldn't be here.

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“It was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. Both [Joelinton and Isak] are fit but not ready to play. Alex has trained and is fine but we didn't want to take the risk with him.”

“Yes, I've had discussions with him, but that's not abnormal. I respect a player's career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he's trained really well and I realise there'll be noise around him.”

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Meanwhile, in an interview with BBC Radio Newcastle, Howe insisted Isak would travel with Newcastle for their pre-season tour of the Far East with the Magpies set to jet out to Singapore and South Korea.

"Yes, absolutely. He's part of our squad,” Howe said. “At this moment in time, I expect him to come."

"I'd never give a guarantee about anybody [staying] because I've been in football long enough to know I could end up looking silly. But, the desire from everybody to keep him is as strong as it could be. Fingers crossed that will happen for us.

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"We love him as a player and a person and want him to stay - and that is right through the club. He's an outstanding talent and a player we cherish.

"I think for any player speculation's not an easy thing to deal with, and not an easy thing to understand, when you're fielding calls and messages from players and people asking you all sorts.

"The media now is so strong and the media message goes far and wide. I don't think it's easy for any player to be under that scrutiny and that's part - ten per cent - of the reason why he wasn't here today.

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"I just want him to focus on himself and his training and being ready for next week."

Newcastle are next in action on Sunday 27 July when they face Arsenal in Singapore, before clashes with a K-League XI and Tottenham Hotspur follow in South Korea on Wednesday 30 July and Sunday 3 August.

Further friendlies against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid are scheduled at St. James’ Park for Friday 8 August and Saturday 9 August, ahead of their Premier League opener away to Aston Villa on Saturday 16 August.

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The transfer window will then close little more than two weeks later on Monday 1 September.

Howe might be desperate for Newcastle to retain Isak, but he cannot hide the fact that he is unable to offer guarantees as transfer speculation continues.

Liverpool will look to finalise a move for Ekitike this week, with the Frenchman then set to report for duty on their own pre-season tour of Asia. It is perhaps an intriguing coincidence that both clubs are touring at the same time.

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With both clubs set to report back to the United Kingdom at the end of the month, it would seem there are plenty more twists and turns to come when it comes to Isak’s future.

Gaitan’s claim about his client’s future might have pricked Liverpool ears, but Howe’s own admissions, while trying to carefully manage the unwanted transfer saga, spoke volumes.

While a concrete move from the Reds for the Swede is by no means guaranteed, they will continue to monitor his situation with interest with Newcastle increasingly aware that, despite their best efforts, Isak’s future with the club very much remains up in the air.

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