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| Alexander Isak is pushing for a move to Liverpool (Image: PA) |
Alexander Isak is adamant 'he will not play for Newcastle again' as the Sweden striker looks to force through a British record transfer to Liverpool before the deadline
Alexander Isak reportedly views his Newcastle career 'over' as he looks to force through a move to Liverpool.
The 25-year-old has made himself an outcast at St James' Park after making it clear he wanted to leave the club to join the Reds in a potential British transfer record deal. Isak has since been frozen out of Eddie Howe's squad and he didn't travel to Asia for the pre-season tour.
Newcastle remain firm on the position they've held all along that the Sweden international will only be allowed to leave for the right place, while they look for a possible replacement.
But even if Newcastle refuse to sell the striker, Isak reportedly regards his career with the club as finished and has no desire to reintegrate with the squad.
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| Alexander Isak is still banished from training with his teammates (Image: Getty Images) |
Isak's perspective is that after being told last summer he would not be offered a new contract due to Newcastle's need to comply with football's financial rules, and him already under a lucrative contract until 2028, he made it clear it would be his last season on Tyneside.
However, some at the club believe the forward planned to discuss the situation, and possibly fresh terms, at the end of last season.
Newcastle aren't under any financial pressure to sell Isak on the cheap, but the latest developments will give Liverpool renewed hope of signing the former Real Sociedad star.
Liverpool first launched a bid worth up to £120m, including add-ons, which was rejected. But an improved offer in the region of £150m could tempt Newcastle to accept.
Howe's side begin their Premier League campaign against Aston Villa on Saturday, but Isak is not expected to feature.
The Reds have until the September 1 deadline to sign Isak, or the striker faces a very awkward season in the north-east.
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| Eddie Howe has been left in a tricky situation (Image: PA) |
Howe admitted that all the noise surrounding Isak has made it difficult to maintain team morale, he 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.
"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.
"So I think naturally it's just been a topic of conversation, it's been a distraction and the biggest hit we've taken is we're not blessed with a number of players in his position, so I think you've seen a big gap.
"But I have to say, big credit to the players because they've got on with their work, training has been of a really high level.
"I haven't seen a negative output on the pitch, but I have been aware of feeling around the group that there's something there that's not to the benefit of the group."
- Cameron Winstanley
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