Alexander Isak was withdrawn from Newcastle United’s friendly at Celtic on Saturday because of the uncertainty over his future.
Isak was the subject of an approach from Liverpool this week, with the Premier League champions willing to pay £120 million for the Sweden striker. Newcastle, however, are sticking rigidly to their £150 million valuation of him.
The two clubs have since gone head-to-head in their pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, with the Anfield club now in pole position to sign the Frenchman.
Eddie Howe took the decision to omit Isak from the squad to travel to Parkhead following the intense scrutiny over his future. The Newcastle manager insisted, though, there was confidence Isak would be at St James’ Park for the start of the season.
Liverpool’s interest in Isak is long-standing, but Newcastle’s owners will not accept anything lower than their valuation of the 25-year-old. That figure of £150 million would be a record fee for a player at a British club.
“It was my decision. I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him,” Howe said. “The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him.”
As Telegraph Sport revealed last weekend, Newcastle were attempting to sign Ekitike to support Isak in attack as they prepared to return to the Champions League. However, once Newcastle made it clear they did not want to do business on Isak, Liverpool switched their attentions to Ekitike and now lead the running for him.
‘We are desperate to keep him’
After Newcastle lost 4-0 at Celtic, Howe insisted Isak would remain at the club despite his omission. “I’d say we have a few players who are irreplaceable,” he said. “Your top players are so hard to find. They are so hard to recruit and develop and make them into those players.
“When you have them, you need to treasure them. We certainly as staff recognise his talent and ability. We are desperate to keep him as part of our team.
“It is difficult for me to sit here and give 100 per cent clarity on any player. I’d never sit here and do that. It is football and you never know what can happen. All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players and staff, the team.
“I have never had any issue with him other than seeing him express his talent and express himself. Certainly I am confident that he is going to be here at the start of the season.”
Newcastle’s valuation of Isak is more than the record fee that a Premier League club have paid for a player, the £106 million that Chelsea handed Benfica for Enzo Fernández. Liverpool could end up paying Bayer Leverkusen £116 million for summer recruit Florian Wirtz, although £16 million of that is performance-related add-ons.
Newcastle paid Real Sociedad £63 million for Isak in 2022. Should they sell him for £150 million, it would be the biggest deal in British football, surpassing Philippe Coutinho’s move to Barcelona. That was worth an overall £142 million.
