Newcastle star Alexander Isak missed the club’s pre-season clash at the weekend after a week of talk linking him with Liverpool as Eddie Howe played down his absence
Ex-Liverpool star Steve Nicol claims “there’s definitely something” behind Newcastle’s decision to leave Alexander Isak out of their pre-season friendly with Celtic at the weekend amid speculation regarding his exit.
The Swede didn’t play for the Magpies after a week where the talk was of Liverpool making an approach for the striker, who has proven himself to be one of the best No.9s in Europe since moving to St James’ Park from Real Sociedad three years ago.
He was a club-record signing for Newcastle, but they could demand double the £63million they paid to sign him if he did leave. Eddie Howe is adamant his leading light is going nowhere despite several clubs being keen if he were to express a desire to leave.
Howe claimed that Isak was never set to appear in the game, which they lost 4-0, as Newcastle look to manage his workload after he struggled for fitness at the back end of the season, but ex-Red Nicol believes there’s more to the decision that meets the eye.
He told ESPN : “It makes no sense that Alexander Isak doesn’t take part in this game. Maybe he’s been told that something is going on and you can’t play him in case he gets injured, that’s what happens. If Isak plays against Celtic and gets injured, that’s £150m down the drain. So, there’s definitely something.”
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The Newcastle manager admitted he told Isak to head home following a week where he dominated the headlines. He said: “It was my decision. I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him.”
Isak’s agent Gonzalo Gaitan recently added fuel to the fire and was quoted in Saudi Arabian outlet Arriyadiyah as saying they “may be close to finalising the next step for the player” – but refused to confirm what that step would be.
Newcastle, since they were taken over, have yet to lose one of their leading lights to a rival club. They’ve steadily built with Isak their most successful signing to date. This summer their attempts at strengthening their team have proved difficult with several of their targets heading elsewhere.
The Magpies, who will return to the Champions League this term, are keen to extend the player’s contract. Isak has three more years left on his current deal but is due to land a salary increase. He was reportedly frustrated after former sporting director Paul Mitchell shelved contract talks despite him being told they were on the cards.
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