Alexander Isak’s refusal to train with Newcastle ahead of the upcoming season is fueling speculation about a potential move to Liverpool.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted on Sunday that he’s uncertain whether Isak will take part in pre-season preparations, casting further doubt over the striker’s future at the club.
Whether Newcastle would consider letting the 25-year-old go without securing a replacement remains unclear. The club is currently in talks with RB Leipzig regarding Benjamin Sesko, though Manchester United are also in the race for the Slovenian forward.
Liverpool could soon receive clarity on Isak’s availability as Sesko’s situation unfolds.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Sesko’s agent has already arrived in Leipzig to help finalize a decision about his next club. If Sesko chooses another destination, Newcastle may be more inclined to hold onto Isak. Conversely, if they succeed in landing Sesko, a transfer to Liverpool becomes more plausible.
Still, the outcome isn’t certain. Reports suggest that Sesko may favor a move to Manchester United, which is surprising given the club’s 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season. It’s even more puzzling when you consider that Newcastle just qualified for the Champions League and are building a strong squad.
Despite this, some believe Newcastle still represents the more attractive long-term project—though convincing Sesko of that remains a challenge.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Newcastle, who previously dealt with a similar situation involving Anthony Gordon. In early 2023, Gordon skipped training at Everton to force a move to the Magpies. As Rob Gutmann pointed out on X (formerly Twitter), these transfer tactics are hardly new and affect all clubs at some point.
Liverpool, now an elite force in the market thanks to years of smart recruitment and success, are no strangers to players pushing for moves. Newcastle, while on the rise, may now face the same challenges that top clubs often encounter—namely, fending off interest from European giants when their key players become unsettled.
In the end, it’s a familiar story in football: transfer sagas can get messy, and someone always ends up disappointed.
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