3 days ago
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Alexander Isak has been told that he couldn't have handled his Newcastle escape plan any worse, as uncertainty continues to surround the Swedish striker's future.
Isak has made it clear that he wants to leave Newcastle this summer, with a move to Liverpool on his wishlist, and he ruled himself out of the club's preseason tour of Asia earlier in the summer. The official reason for Isak's absence was that he was injured, but it quickly emerged that he was unsettled at St. James' Park amid his desire to leave.
Isak was banished from first-team training upon his return to Newcastle's training ground last week, with Eddie Howe saying he is unlikely to play in the Magpies' Premier League opener against Aston Villa this weekend.
Former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has criticized Isak's handling of the situation.
"The transfer to me looks like it can't be done because Newcastle are going to dig their heels in now, and I think they are angry," Pardew told talkSPORT. "I would also be if I was on the Newcastle board.
"I would dig my heels in, so the fee could go really silly.
"The problem is, he's handled it so badly. He couldn't have handled it any worse.
"His agents and advisors have said to him to throw down the tools after serving that great football club, and he's doing really bad things to hold them to ransom and more or less force a way out."
Addressing Liverpool's remaining needs in the transfer market, Pardew said: "They've let two [forwards] go and brought two in, so that probably is where they are thinking.
"But transfers take a course of their own. At first, it feels like it's going to happen, and the club feel that as well, and then suddenly, it turns, and I think Newcastle are moved into that area."
Speaking after Newcastle drew 2-2 with Espanyol in a pre-season friendly at St. James' Park on Friday, boss Howe said: “We've had discussions and it's clear at the moment that we can't involve him with the group.
"I don't know how long that will be for, but that's the latest.
"I'd want Alex to be playing today. I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us.
"Let me make that absolutely clear. There's no part of me that doesn't want that outcome, but I don't see the current situation changing for Aston Villa."
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