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Newcastle is willing to impose a club fine on Alexander Isak if he fails to appear in the opening match of the Premier League season - with the striker keen to secure a move to Liverpool. It comes as the forward has seemingly gone on strike.
The Swedish international is likely to face a fine as his refusal to play for the Magpies culminates in the clash against Aston Villa. Isak is pushing for a transfer to Liverpool this summer and hasn't trained with Eddie Howe's first team since their preseason tour of Asia.
The club's leading striker has been training separately from his teammates, who helped the club secure a Champions League spot last season. Liverpool has already had a bid turned down by the Magpies this summer.
Newcastle initially stated that the forward was not up for sale, and it's not anticipated that the Reds will make another offer unless they're encouraged to do so.
However, Isak isn't giving up on a potential move and has declared he won't play for Newcastle again, regardless of how events unfold in the coming weeks. This stance could lead to the 25-year-old being penalised.
The former Real Sociedad star has continued to receive his £140,000($190K)-a-week wages amidst the stand-off. No fine has been issued despite his declaration that he won't play for the club.
According to Mail Online, Newcastle's position will change once Isak misses a competitive match, at which point disciplinary action will be taken. The Magpies are set to kick off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Aston Villa.
Isak's position is said to be unwavering, with concerns that any softening of his stance would only give Newcastle false hope of a resolution and scupper any chance of a transfer. Despite edging closer to signing Yoane Wisse, the St James' Park outfit have yet to find an adequate replacement for their main striker.
Howe has admitted that the ongoing situation has thrown a spanner in the works for his team's preseason preparations. "I think morale was certainly affected early on during preseason," he confessed.
"There was nothing I could do to affect that - it was always going to be there. When you have a player that good who is not part of your group, it's difficult for the players to fully understand it and to know what's going on and how to react.
"But, as time has gone on, there has been an acceptance that this is the squad and we have got to make the best of the situation. That's always been my train of thought.
"Whatever situation you're in, you have got to find a way and you can only control what you can control. We have moved forward and I've got to say the atmosphere of the group has been very good in the last couple of weeks."
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