4 days ago
28
The Alexander Isak transfer saga has taken yet another dramatic twist - and potentially a decisive one.
The Newcastle striker has of course been linked with a move to Liverpool for months now, although recent weeks have seen the speculation reach new heights. The Reds have made their interest clear after making a $146 million bid that was turned down, while it seems Isak himself is dead set on a switch to Merseyside.
He might not get his wish though, with new reports now suggesting that Newcastle’s owners have blocked him from leaving St. James' Park this summer, leaving Isak furious.
His relationship with the club has already looked strained in recent weeks. Despite Newcastle’s best attempts to brush off his absence from a tour of Asia with a thigh injury, subsequent reports suggested there was much more to the story.
He would then go on to train at his old club Real Sociedad before returning to the north-east, where he hasn’t exactly been granted the warmest of welcomes by Eddie Howe after being forced to stay away from his teammates.
Judging by some of their comments this summer, though, there aren’t any hard feelings among the rest of the Newcastle players for Isak - or at least, none that they’re letting on to.
Bruno Guimaraes in particular has been very complimentary of the striker despite the ongoing drama surrounding his future.
“I’m really close to him,” the Brazilian said last month. “He’s a good guy. He’s been through some rough things at this moment.
“My focus is with the lads. Isak is something I cannot control.
“The club has control of it. I hope he’s going to be fit when we come back to Newcastle to prepare for the new season.
“They told us he was there in Newcastle because of his injury. Of course he’s a top player for us and he’s going to be a miss on this trip. We need him ready as soon as possible.”
Kieran Trippier would go on to echo those sentiments, and even reached out to his teammate in order to offer him some help.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
"My phone is available 24/7 to Alex - and Alex knows that,” Trippier said.
"He knows I am always there. We are not panicking, Alex has got an injury, and we have to do what we have to here, focus on the games.”
Trippier added: "We have tough games coming, but we stick together now as a team, and hopefully Alex will come back when he is fully fit."
Whether those feelings have changed, given how hard Isak is reported to be pushing for a move to Liverpool, could become clear soon if Newcastle is indeed preventing him from moving. The striker may find himself having to make a rather sheepish return to training with his teammates as the start of the new Premier League season nears.
English (US) ·