Alexander Isak has got one thing right — but his Liverpool transfer still hangs in the balance

Alexander Isak has been excluded from training, didn't go on the Newcastle United pre-season tour, and wants to join Liverpool. But so far, Eddie Howe's side has refused to budge.

On Tuesday, Isak took to Instagram to break his silence on the matter, making clear in no uncertain terms — though it was pretty much known anyway — that he felt he had been betrayed by Newcastle.

"I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken," he wrote. "That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.

"The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading."

In response, Newcastle claimed there had been no such promises (Isak presumably felt that a new contract was imminent, or that he would be allowed to leave). It appeared to close the door once and for all on an exit.

For all that Newcastle was definitive in some ways, however, it left things ajar in others. The club said that it didn't feel it was likely that the conditions required for Isak to leave would present themselves — not that it was impossible.

"We have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired," it said in rebuke. That would suggest that there are conditions — likely A) that a replacement is found, and B) that Liverpool ups its bid — but that they haven't been met yet.

Newcastle has tried, to some extent, to bring in a potential Isak successor. The pursuits of Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap, though, have failed, hence why a second offer from Liverpool hasn't landed.

Isak, for his part, could perhaps use that as further justification for why he believes a move to Liverpool would be a substantial step up in his career.

But by stopping the Swede from leaving, the North East side is possibly giving itself a long-term problem. Right now, it is not going to be able to keep every top player that it has — and so some might be put off going there if they know they will be denied their next move.

If another Isak comes along, that player is likely to want guarantees that he will be able to move on at some point, in case Newcastle doesn't become a Premier League and Champions League contender in the medium term.

If Isak is forced to stay, then some players will look at that situation and wonder whether they might be better going elsewhere.

It would be hypocritical to suggest that Isak is alone in wanting to force an exit, too. Anthony Gordon needed to push through a move to Newcastle from Everton — and very nearly joined Liverpool a year ago — while Wissa has done almost everything in his power to join Howe's side from Brentford.

While a lot of the Isak statement is essentially his word against his current club's — and it all could have been avoided had he negotiated a release clause to begin with — he was definitely right about one thing. Right now, even at this stage of the summer, it is best for both parties to part ways.

It should have happened at the start of the summer, if anything, to allow Newcastle the time to rebuild and reinvest. But better late than never.

If Isak stays, having made such a clear stance publicly available for all to see, it will be a long route back for him into the senior set-up at Newcastle. The club's fans, after all, have already turned on him and were chanting about him being "greedy" just a few days ago.

It could be argued, perhaps, that if Isak does knuckle down and score a few goals, all will be forgiven. But having missed all of preseason and kicked up such a fuss, that will be a long and difficult process (and one that probably, eventually, still ends up a parting of ways).

With around 11 days left of the transfer window, Newcastle has so far maintained its stance. Isak, for his part, has only doubled down, while Liverpool has waited.

Something will have to change in the stand-off at some point, but it does feel extremely close to a point of no return. In Isak's words, an exit makes sense for both parties — though Newcastle doesn't yet agree, he might be right.