While Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe may hope that there is still a chance to keep Alexander Isak, reports suggest that “bridges are starting to burn” and a move to Liverpool may be the only way forward.
When Liverpool’s concrete interest in Isak was first reported, it was made very clear by reporters and journalists close to Newcastle that there was no way they would sell a player so integral to the club’s project.
Isak scored 23 Premier League goals last season – only Salah scored more – and is the talisman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia’s project in Newcastle.
Isak is the favourite player of PIF governor and Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan but it would appear that Isak’s actions this summer make it almost impossible for him to return to Newcastle as if nothing happened.
Liverpool’s £110m opening bid was swiftly rejected and while there has been an insistence from reporters close to the Reds that they could walk away from interest in Isak, that seems like part of the media game that comes with a transfer of this magnitude.
Newcastle are pursuing Benjamin Sesko and Yoane Wissa but are struggling to get deal across the line which, in turn, will threaten Liverpool’s ability to sign Isak.
Eddie Howe wants to keep Alexander Isak but “bridges are starting to burn, to a degree”
Isak has been training in Spain on his own while this saga has rumbled on and with the Premier League season set to begin in less than two weeks, it seems as though a lot is changing behind the scenes at Newcastle.
According to journalist Craig Hope, it would appear as though the stance that Isak is not for sale appears to be softening as relations between the striker and Newcastle deteriorate.
“That would suggest to me, while Eddie Howe’s absolute preference is that all of this goes away and he gets back to having the best striker in Europe, if not the world, into his squad – I do think there’s a realisation now that bridges are starting to burn, to a degree,” Hope said.
“That’s why I think they’re pressing ahead with [Benjamin] Sesko and with [Yoane] Wissa.”
