Alexander Isak has gone war with Newcastle in an attempt to force a blockbuster transfer to Liverpool before the window closes, but there is an uncomfortable luminaire on the horizon
The Alexander Isak Saga shows no signs of delay, and with the Premier League around the corner, it is even more realistic for him.
Isak gambled when he put his cards on the table on July 24 by making Newcastle clear that he wanted to leave. Although he was left for three years on his contract with the Magpies, he said he wanted to explore other opportunities.
That attitude essentially came down to one thing: Liverpool. The Premier League champions had emerged as the only realistic freer for the Swedish striker and had the funds available to sign him, even after he had landed Hugo Ekitike for Newcastle.
What has happened in recent weeks has been predictable. Newcastle has sustained that Isak is not for sale and they expect that he will fall in line and play this season in front of Eddie Howe. Isak has insisted that he was ready, went on strike and says he will never play for the Magpies again.
Just like in the Saga that eventually Viktor Gyokeres fell at Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon, things have become more and more bitter. We are about to enter a new phase of the story, with really meaningful football on the horizon.
Newcastle will start their Premier League campaign against Aston Villa on Saturday in a fixture that is perhaps uncomfortable for Jacob Ramsey, who goes from Villa to St James' park in a £ 40 million deal before Isak will be firmly in the spotlight.
Newcastle organizes Liverpool in St James' Park on 25 August in their second game of the Premier League season. With the summer transfer window open until 1 September, it falls on an extremely uncomfortable time for the Magpies, but at a perfect moment for fans of the story.
It is likely that Isak will still sit on the sidelines with his fingers crossed in 12 days. Newcastle has already rejected a first £ 120 million offer from Liverpool for the 25-year-old and is deemed to appreciate him for £ 150 million. What will follow is a game of chicken with a high bet to see who will flash first.
The game between the two parties gives Isak the chance to take stock. If the side of Arne Slot arrives at Tyneside and Steamroller their opponents, it will only encourage his decision to jump the ship; When Newcastle gets on and competes, he could see that the grass is not always greener.
The Magpies finished fifth last season and will participate in the Champions League this season. Although they have passed a difficult transfer window, in which they have missed a succession of goals to Premier League rivals, they have brought in Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw, in which Ramsey will arrive soon.
The gap between what Isak currently has and what he could have when he leaves is not that great in a sense. In another it is huge. Isak currently gets around £ 120,000 a week and knows that he could achieve much more elsewhere.
The best earner in Newcastle is Bruno Guimaraes, at £ 160,000 a week, while the Top Dog of Liverpool, Mohamed Salah, attracts more than £ 350,000 a week. Money is not everything, but it does demonstrate the gap between the two clubs, even with the Saudi Aarabia's Public Investment Fund on board.
Isak will desperately hope that his transfer will be sorted before Liverpool visits the northeast. He has shown no signs to go back and left the ball in the court of Newcastle. Intriged spectators will hope that the simmering tension will continue and will come to the boil when the two parties go to a single pitch in 12 days.