The transfer saga surrounding Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Liverpool has taken a dramatic turn just before the start of the new Premier League season.
Isak has been regularly linked with a move to Liverpool over the summer.
Liverpool reportedly had a £110 million offer for the Swedish forward turned down earlier this month.
That figure falls short of Newcastle’s £150 million valuation, and the club has remained firm in its stance not to sell.
Now, a new development could escalate the situation further.
According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Isak has allegedly refused to train or play in an effort to push through a transfer to Liverpool. As a result, he is expected to miss Newcastle’s season opener against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Despite this, Newcastle still hope to keep Isak and are even open to offering him a new contract. However, Hope notes the club may be willing to take the risk of holding onto him past the transfer deadline in hopes he re-joins the squad if a deal doesn’t materialize.
Isak, whose current deal runs until 2028 and includes no release clause, cannot be forced out of the club against Newcastle’s wishes—even if he continues to sit out matches.
This week, Newcastle confirmed their squad numbers, with Isak retaining the No. 14 jersey—famously worn by his idol Thierry Henry at Arsenal.
Without Isak, Newcastle have just one out-and-out striker available for the Villa match: William Osula. However, it’s more likely that either Anthony Gordon or recent signing Anthony Elanga will play up front.
Elanga, primarily a winger or attacking midfielder, occasionally played as a striker at Manchester United before moving to Nottingham Forest. Gordon has also filled in as a central forward for Newcastle and led the line during pre-season in Isak’s absence.