Alexander Isak to Liverpool swap transfer proposal, Eddie Howe bombshell and Arne Slot visit

We take a look back at the entire Alexander Isak transfer saga this summer, which finally appears to be drawing to a close ahead of Newcastle’s tantalising encounter with Liverpool on Monday

Talk of whether Alexander Isak will remain at Newcastle or leave the north east after three seasons has dominated headlines this summer. It’s a transfer saga that has included everything, from the 25-year-old refusing to train and bombshell public statements to angry fans confronting the player to make their feelings known.

Just over a week remains of the transfer window, and one thing remains clear: Isak has no intention of playing for Newcastle again. Liverpool, who had a £110million bid for him rejected earlier this month, are still keen on snapping him up and appear to be his most likely destination.

However, it remains to be seen whether they will submit a second bid anywhere close to Newcastle’s £150m valuation to convince them to sell. Here, Mirror Football brings you all of the details you may have missed from the Isak saga, including the latest news.

READ MORE: Eddie Howe drops bombshell and says Alexander Isak to Liverpool saga will end very soonREAD MORE: Alexander Isak prediction made ahead of Liverpool visit as Gary Lineker sends three-word message

Lineker trolls Shearer over ‘swap deal’

There is a case to be made that Newcastle were well aware of Isak’s desire to leave St James’ Park this summer and had lined up several players as potential replacements in the event that he left. Joao Pedro was one such target, with the Magpies having seen a £50m bid turned down for the Brazilian, before Chelsea swooped in with a better offer to secure his signature.

The Blues also successfully signed another of Eddie Howe’s targets, Liam Delap, who preferred to join the Stamford Bridge side. Newcastle then turned their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, also being pursued by Liverpool, despite their interest in Isak.

Newcastle fell short in that race too, reportedly seeing a £70m bid rejected as the Frenchman joined his preferred club in a £79m transfer. Following that, Magpies bosses raced to sign Benjamin Sesko, making a second bid worth £69.7m before the Slovenian chose Manchester United.

Pundit Gary Lineker played on Newcastle’s frustrations on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, jokingly asking Alan Shearer: “Why don’t you do a swap deal? For Ekitike. Just to stir things up a little bit.” Shearer could only roll his eyes and let out a bemused laugh, saying: “Oh, God.”

No way back for Isak?

In July, amid increasing speculation over Isak’s future, the forward was not involved in the club’s pre-season tour of Asia. As transfer rumours grew and reports surfaced claiming that the Swede was agitating for a move, Isak was left out of Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa last weekend.

They only managed a 0-0 draw against 10-man opposition, while Isak’s own fans aimed disparaging chants at him, labelling him “greedy”. Earlier this week, Isak broke his silence with a bombshell statement in which he claimed the club had “broken promises”, hinting that he won’t play for them again.

Despite Newcastle responding with a statement of their own that said they’d welcome Isak back “when he’s ready to rejoin his team-mates,” Wayne Rooney believes the saga has reached a level of toxicity that shows all ties have been severed.

He said on his new BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show: “If I’m a Newcastle player, I don’t want Isak back. You can’t go on strike, not turn up for training and train with your team-mates. If you want to leave the club or not, you have to be there for your team-mates and be ready if needed. For me, I don’t think there’s any way back for Isak at Newcastle.”

Arne Slot’s visit

Arne Slot is set to visit St James’ Park on Monday when Liverpool take on Newcastle. Given the Isak and Ekitike transfer sagas, the match is expected to be heated. But he is unlikely to face Isak, with Lineker and Shearer predicting he will stay away from the drama.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Lineker said: “The fixture list sometimes does this beautifully, doesn’t it? Newcastle vs Liverpool. Of course it is,” before Shearer added: “Monday night, I’ll be at the match as well.”

When asked if he thinks Isak will be there by Lineker, Shearer replied: “No, do you?” The former Match of the Day host added: “Not a chance,” as he erupted into laughter. Explaining how Isak’s transfer saga will only add to the tensions during the match, Shearer added: “It’ll be an incredible atmosphere. It’s a bit tasty anyway, Newcastle Liverpool, so it’s a bit of added spice I think, don’t you?”

Eddie Howe’s announcement

The Magpies boss delivered a fresh update on Friday, saying the end is in sight regarding the Isak transfer speculation. The head coach did not specify whether that meant the forward would be leaving or staying put, but he voiced his regret at how things had transpired.

“He won’t be part of the squad this weekend,” Howe said in a press conference ahead of Newcastle’s match against Liverpool. “The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United. It will do that in every situation. It looks like it is coming to an end, or it will come to an end pretty quickly.”

Speaking about Newcastle’s statement, he said: “It was a sad moment. My preference is that these things do not happen publicly. They are better dealt with behind closed doors. But needs must. The club has spoken, and justifiably so in that moment.

“He’s contracted to us. He’s our player. My wish is that he would be playing on Monday. He won’t be, and that’s regrettable. But 100 per cent, I want him back in a Newcastle shirt. It’s a lose-lose situation. I don’t think we can come out of this winning in any situation.”

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