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Former Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has claimed that transfer interest from Liverpool has turned Alexander Isak's head this summer after the Reds made an approach for the Swede last week.
However, Pardew has also warned that the rest of the dressing room will be watching closely for how Eddie Howe deals with the situation. Should the move be blocked, he says, in his experience as a Premier League boss, the rest of Isak's teammates will be on his side if an exit to a "bigger" club is prevented.
"Reading between the lines, it looks very much like the player is affected, I would suggest," Pardew said on talkSPORT. "Eddie Howe made a sensible move and took him out of the equation (for the friendly against Celtic).
"Has Isak's head been turned? I would suggest, possibly yes. They've got a battle on there. Eddie is trying to play it down but it won't go away until Liverpool conduct their business.
"What you find is, when players are getting targeted by the bigger clubs, the other players usually side with the player — regardless of what the club decides to do. They all want to progress in their career.
"The Liverpool thing, I would suggest, the other players are not that bothered. That could be them, so they want to see the club treat the player correctly. It's a fine balance."
Isak didn't play against Celtic last week. Howe explained that he felt it was a distraction for the player to have interest from elsewhere and so he sent him home.
But Pardew says there will be no issue with Isak during pre-season, no matter what happens with his future in the meantime.
"The player will be training his hardest because he wants to have a great season, whether that is for Liverpool, for Newcastle, or for wherever else he might end up," he said.
"Outside of Erling Haaland, he is the best striker in the Premier League. He is a real asset that they won't want to lose.
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"But Newcastle have lost big players to Liverpool in the past. I was there when Andy Carroll moved on the last day of the window."
Liverpool.com says: Isak would be a dream signing for the Reds and for Newcastle, there are two ways of looking at it. Of course, losing a star man isn't ideal and he scored lots of important goals last season.
On the other hand, cashing in would allow for about five signings in his place. Ahead of a return to the Champions League, increasing the squad depth across the board rather than having one elite striker carrying the burden might make sense with the right additions.
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