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Curtis Jones has fueled speculation that Alexander Isak will join Liverpool this summer after copying his trademark celebration in a Premier League promotion video.
The Premier League returns on Friday as Liverpool hosts Bournemouth in the season opener at Anfield. The action continues over the weekend, but Isak is set to miss Newcastle's opening game against Aston Villa due to uncertainty surrounding his future.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe admitted that the transfer saga has been unhealthy for the club and is already planning a short-term solution. Yoane Wissa will also miss Brentford's opening game against Nottingham Forest following interest from Newcastle, meaning several transfers could be imminent.
On the eve of the 2025-26 season, several Premier League stars were included in a promotional video. Players from around the country performed trademark celebrations, and Jones mimicked Isak's.
Liverpool has yet to submit a new offer for Isak after Newcastle rejected an initial $148 million bid earlier this summer. However, despite telling Liverpool that Isak is not for sale, the striker has gone on strike and has no plans to play for Newcastle again.
Newcastle is unwilling to sell Isak until a replacement striker has been signed, and the club has missed out on several targets this summer. Liverpool hijacked a deal for Hugo Ekitike, and Manchester United blocked a move for RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko.
However, Wissa is heavily linked to Newcastle, and Brentford is closing in on a deal to sign Bournemouth forward Dango Ouattara. Should Brentford sign Ouattara, it could pave the way for Wissa to join Newcastle.
Newcastle has already signed Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga and is close to acquiring Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey. If Isak does join Liverpool, Howe will consider using Anthony Gordon as a striker next season and partner him with Wissa, if a deal can be completed.
In an interview with BBC Sport on Thursday, Howe admitted that the Isak saga has impacted morale around the Newcastle training ground. Isak is still training in isolation, and the club will start to fine him if he misses games, but Howe claimed that his teammates have begun to accept he may not be at Newcastle for much longer.
"It's not been ideal, I don't think it's been healthy for us, I'm not gonna deny it's been a big, big challenge," Howe told BBC Sport. "For me, Alex is one of the, if not the best, strikers in the world. So, if you miss him from your squad it's a huge gap. The situation is ongoing, but we'll have to find a way without him.
"The morale was certainly affected early on during pre-season. There's no denying that. And there was nothing I could do, really, to affect that.
"It was always going to be there. When you've got a player that good, not part of your group, it's difficult for the players to sort of fully understand it and know what's going on and then sort of know how to react to it.
"But I think as time has gone on, there's been a sort of acceptance that this is the squad and we've got to make the best of this situation. That's always been my train of thought. Whatever situation you're in, you've got to find a way, and you can only ever control what you can control."
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