Alexander Isak has not travelled with Newcastle United squad for their pre-season tour of east Asia amid transfer interest from Liverpool and Saudi Pro League, club Al-Hilal.
The Sweden international, who scored 27 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions last season has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.
Softfootball understood that Isak was also not in Glasgow for Newcastle’s 4-0 friendly defeat against Celtic on Saturday. The Magpies are preparing to face Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday, before matches against a K-League XI and Tottenham Hotspur in South Korea.
Eddie Howe has put together his travelling squad, with the countdown to the 2025-26 campaign but the Swedish striker is conspicuously missing from the list further fueling the rumour of his transfer.
But, according to statement posted on Newcastle United official website, Isak misses out with a minor thigh injury.
The message reads:
“Eddie Howe has an almost fully-fit squad to choose from, however Alexander Isak misses out with a minor thigh injury.”
The optics of this, really are not great. Newcastle insist Isak is injured and that a long haul flight would not aid his recovery, but the rumor will only go into overdrive. It is very unfortunate timing for the club if that is the case, given the speculation which continues to swirl around their star asset.
Newcastle insist that the Sweden striker isn’t for sale and would demand at least £125million, a British record, if they were forced to sell.
Meanwhile, Liverpool confirmed the £79m signing of striker Hugo Ekitike, who was a target for Newcastle on Wednesday, but the Premier League champions are very keen on Sweden striker Isak, who is also understood to be keen on a move to Anfield.
Liverpool made an enquiry last week about a deal for the ex-Real Sociedad and Borussia Dortmund front-man, but it was dismissed by Newcastle.
But speculation soon ramped up again when it emerged that Isak had been left out of Newcastle’s squad for their pre-season tour of east Asia
