Alan Shearer has reacted to the news that no Newcastle United fan wanted to hear in regard to Alexander Isak.
Indeed, it was confirmed on Thursday that Isak was not included in the Newcastle United squad for their pre-season tour of Asia.
The official reason is that Isak is still dealing with a thigh injury. Still, it’s hard to spin it at all positively given all the speculation over his future.
Liverpool want to sign Isak, while a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal has also been tipped to happen despite the fact they are also owned by PIF.
Clearly, the thigh injury might well have been enough to rule him out. A long-haul flight would hardly be welcome when a player is suffering from discomfort.
The optics, however, are not great and Shearer has reacted.
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Alan Shearer worried as Alexander Isak left out of Newcastle United squad
On Thursday morning, the club confirmed their squad for their pre-season tour of Asia.
Newcastle are set to play Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday before meeting a K-League All Stars XI and Tottenham out in South Korea next week.
Isak wasn’t part of the squad who will travel to the Far East and Shearer reacted with a stunned face emoji to the club’s Instagram post confirming that news.
Whether Alexander Isak will leave Newcastle United this summer
Newcastle insist Isak isn’t for sale this summer, despite all the noise.
That has been the messaging for months and there is no immediate financial pressure to sell him to either Liverpool or Al Hilal given he still has three years to go on his contract.
It’s hard to see PIF suddenly wilting in their stance but it’s equally as difficult to argue that things are looking good right now.
Even if Isak doesn’t leave, this is hardly ideal preparation for the season ahead.
It’s a difficult situation for the club to manage. Selling Isak this close to the start of the season would be catastrophic.
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