Newcastle United begin their pre-season tour of Asia without Alexander Isak.
Indeed, Newcastle play Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday but will not have their star striker available for the game.
Isak wasn’t included in the Newcastle squad who have travelled to Asia, amid serious doubts about his future.
It has thrown Eddie Howe’s plans into chaos ahead of the new season. The Newcastle United manager has not been afforded many new signings, and he’s now without arguably his very best player.
Here’s why Isak isn’t playing against the Gunners.
- Who is Alexander Isak? The striker who burned his Newcastle United reputation to force £125m Liverpool transfer
Newcastle United confirm Alexander Isak injury latest
On Thursday, the club confirmed their squad for the pre-season tour of Asia.
They stated that the Sweden international was suffering from a “minor thigh injury”.
Isak also missed the Celtic game last week because of that issue, although Howe later confirmed the decision to send him home from Glasgow was at least partly informed by the speculation about his future.
It remains to be seen if Isak features at all for Newcastle during pre-season.
Isak wants to leave Newcastle this summer, and has told the club exactly that.
How Alexander Isak felt about being left out of Newcastle United’s pre-season tour of Asia
The forward appears to have agreed with the decision not to go on tour.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the striker “favoured” being left out of the squad amid the uncertainty about his future.
It seems clear the player has been unsettled. Isak was furious he didn’t get a new contract in 2024, which looks to be one of the reasons as to why he’d like to leave this summer.
What happens next in the Isak saga is unclear. Newcastle have always stressed their star forward isn’t for sale this summer, but quite how serious they are about that will only be known if and when an official offer is made.
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