Alexander Isak didn’t know where to look when Alan Shearer awkwardly put him on the spot

Newcastle United look to be nearing a conclusion to the drawn out Alexander Isak saga, with the Swedish striker having been pushing to join rivals Liverpool for weeks

Alexander Isak was left looking flustered and gave an awkward reply when Alan Shearer asked him whether he’d be signing a long-term term deal. The endless transfer speculation surrounding Isak has dominated headlines over the past month.

Few could have imagined that the Newcastle striker, who ended the club’s trophy drought in March by scoring the Carabao Cup final winner against Liverpool, would push so hard to leave St James’ Park this summer.

Amid transfer speculation, Isak was left out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia and was the subject of a £110million bid from Liverpool earlier this month, which was quickly rejected. Since then, the Swede, 25, has not trained with his team-mates and is refusing to play for Newcastle in an effort to force a move to Anfield.

READ MORE: Alexander Isak could be about to reveal all on Liverpool transfer saga in ‘popcorn’ interviewREAD MORE: Alan Shearer makes Newcastle demand as Alexander Isak saga reaches boiling point – ‘Bonkers’

His behaviour, including releasing a statement in which he accused the club of “breaking promises and trust”, has seen him criticised by club legend Shearer and fans.

After reportedly making it clear during crunch talks with Magpies bosses before the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool on Monday that he does not see his future on Tyneside, it appears Isak could well be on the move before the end of the transfer window.

That may not come as a surprise, however, despite the player still having three years left on his contract. There had been some hope last season that the Sweden international would commit his long-term future to Newcastle by signing a contract extension.

But in a BBC Sport interview with Shearer in January, the Magpies icon put Isak on the spot by saying: “We’ve seen recent big name centre-forwards sign long contracts…”

Isak nodded his head before awkwardly saying: “Yeah,” and breaking into a smile. Shearer continued: “You know what’s coming next.”

But Isak’s reply was rather telling, refusing to commit his future to Newcastle in that moment. “Yeah we’ll see, obviously you never know,” he said while breaking eye contact.

It suggested that, even seven months ago, the striker in his head had begun to think about a move and perhaps already saw himself elsewhere.

He may now get his wish as Newcastle line up a replacement centre-forward in 23-year-old German Nick Woltemade. The Magpies are reportedly closing in on a deal for the Stuttgart forward worth £65m.

That leaves the door open for Liverpool to sign Isak, with one of the conditions for his departure this summer having been a suitable replacement being brought in beforehand. Now, it appears that Newcastle have successfully concluded their long search for a striker, potentially bringing an end to the Isak saga once and for all.

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