Newcastle’s standoff with Alexander Isak intensified on Wednesday when the striker was told to train alone and miss a team barbecue.
Manager Eddie Howe had organized the lunchtime gathering for players, staff, and their families, but Isak was instructed to arrive later for individual training. The rest of the squad had already trained after returning from their 15-hour flight from Seoul on Monday morning.
Isak skipped Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea as he tried to push through a move to Liverpool. While the club cited a minor thigh injury as the reason for his absence, scans reportedly showed no issue. Instead of staying in Newcastle, Isak traveled to Spain and trained alone at his former club, Real Sociedad, last week.
Howe, who learned of Isak’s trip through the media, warned before leaving Seoul that players showing “poor behavior” could lose the privilege of training with the team. “You have to earn that right,” he said. “No player can expect to act poorly and still train with the group.”
Liverpool saw a £110m bid for Isak rejected, but Newcastle expects them to return with a higher offer once they find a replacement. Their search has been difficult, with target Benjamin Sesko now set to join Manchester United.
Isak was due to meet with Howe and the medical staff on Wednesday to discuss his future and his supposed thigh injury. Regardless of the outcome, he’s unlikely to feature in Newcastle’s upcoming Sela Cup matches against Espanyol and Atlético Madrid.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s striker hunt continues—potentially for two new forwards if Isak leaves. They’ve been linked with Gonçalo Ramos (PSG), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Yoane Wissa (Brentford), and Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea).
The club is also pursuing a right-sided center-back, with reports in Italy claiming Milan rejected a £26m bid for Malick Thiaw. While the offer may have been exploratory, Newcastle has long been interested in the German defender.
