Newcastle United will be without star striker Alexander Isak for Monday’s massive clash against Liverpool in the Premier League.
Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions for Newcastle United last season but has not played since the final day of the 2024-25 campaign, when they lost to Everton at St James’ Park.
The Sweden international has recovered from the “minor thigh injury” that ruled him out of pre-season but continues not to be involved.
Isak is training away from the rest of the Newcastle United squad and has confirmed his desire to leave the club this summer.
It is now increasingly unlikely that Isak will join Liverpool but he remains keen to do so. As such, Eddie Howe has taken the decision not to include him over the last few games.
Here’s all you need to know.
- Who is Alexander Isak? The striker who burned his Newcastle United reputation to force £125m Liverpool transfer
The reason Alexander Isak isn’t playing for Newcastle United vs Liverpool
Isak’s absence is nothing new for Newcastle.
Still, the Newcastle United manager offered fresh insight when speaking on Friday.
Talking to the media ahead of Monday’s game, Howe said: “He won’t be part of the squad this weekend.
“The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United. It will do that in every situation.
“It looks like it is coming to an end, or it will come to an end pretty quickly.”
The crux of the matter is that Isak isn’t involved because he wants to leave Newcastle, rather than any transfer away from the club being particularly close.
There obviously remains a chance he could leave St James’ Park this summer given the transfer window is still open.
As the deadline draws closer, however, it seems less and less likely that he will get the move he so desperately craves.
Alexander Isak to Liverpool transfer latest
Newcastle are ready to keep Isak because the “conditions of a sale” do not look likely to be met.
It is widely thought that the club would need to sign two forwards and have Liverpool increase their offer to around £150million for Isak’s services.
Earlier this summer, the Reds had a bid worth around £110million rejected by Newcastle.
It will be fascinating to see if the situation changes after Monday’s game, however.
Liverpool could make a bid after it, and Newcastle would know they would not have to face the prospect of Isak returning to St James’ Park for around a year at least.
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