Alexander Isak will become a member of his teammates in Newcastle next week after the Magpies have rejected an £ 110 million offer from Liverpool, but his future will be far from certainly in St James' Park
Newcastle Fear Liverpool is ready to play the same waiting game that Virgil van Dijk once landed in their attempt to bring £ 150 million rated striker Alexander Isak to Anfield. The Premier League champions have indicated that they are willing to park their interest in the Swedish international after they have seen an £ 110 million offer reject by the tone.
Isak has set his sights on a move to Merseyside and used the training facilities at the former Real Sociedad club, while his teammates are on a pre-season tour through Asia after missing the trip with a small thigh injury. The 25-year-old risks the alienation of the St James' Park fans despite the reassuring manager Eddie Howe that he still has the full support of the club.
If the relationship acknowledges, it would be the pressure on the Tyneside club to allow Isak to get his wish by closing a deal with the Reds. Liverpool has previously been here with Van Dijk.
They withdrew from making a relocation for the Dutchman when Southampton reported them to the Premier League about their behavior during the negotiations in the summer of 2017. The complaint was dropped when Jurgen Klopp went to public to explain their interest in the defender – but five months later Van Dijk became 75 million.
Former Saints Chairman Ralph Krueger admitted that the Saga “had created an earthquake” at St Mary's. If the Saudi owners of Newcastle have the feeling that they are being maneuvered in a heavy position, it can be counterproductive on both Liverpool and Isak.
But Baas Howe wants to build on the optimism of the end of 70 years of waiting for a domestic trophy last season and qualify for the Champions League. He has been careful not to close the door to his best player who returns to the fold.
Howe, whose team stands against Tottenham in Seoul on Sunday, said: “I am very removed from everything that happens at home.
“I was informed that there was an offer yesterday. That bid was rejected before I heard about it. There are people back in England who are dealing with the situation.
“I really don't know what's going to happen, but from our perspective we still support Alex in all ways and my wish is still that we see it again in a Newcastle shirt.
“I know where he is through the media, so I think it is difficult for me to go into detail from that perspective. The situation is far from ideal. It's pretty complex. I think that's all I have to say.”
Newcastle is convinced that they have risen Manchester United in the race to sign RB Leipzig's Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko after setting an offer of £ 70 million, including add-ons. If they are successful, then that will encourage Liverpool to believe that they can land Isak in this transfer window, despite the fact that they invest nearly £ 300 million in strengthening the title -winning team of Arne Slot.