Newcastle, Liverpool and the Alexander Isak transfer conundrum | OneFootball

The Premier League is no stranger to players attempting to force their way out of a club in want of a new challenge. Perhaps the standout story of this summer’s transfer window in the Premier League surrounds Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

While Eddie Howe would have hoped this summer would have presented itself as an opportunity to strengthen his squad following the return of silverware and Champions League football to Tyneside, the Isak transfer saga has taken over the summer and become an unwelcome distraction.

The Swedish international, who scored 27 goals in all competitions last season, missed the Magpies’ opening PL fixture away to Aston Villa last weekend and has not trained with the Newcastle squad for over a month as he attempts to force a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

After weeks of speculation and off-pitch drama, the summer saga of a player caught in no man’s land reaches its climax as Howe’s men host Liverpool at St James’ Park on Monday evening. Despite the spotlight of such an occasion being so firmly focussed on Isak, Howe confirmed the Swede will not feature for the Magpies against the Reds: “There’s been no change [with the situation], he won’t be part of the squad for this weekend’s game.”

While Newcastle scramble to adapt without their talisman, Arne Slot’s side have bolstered their attacking options this summer, despite yet being able to agree a deal for Isak. Perhaps most notably has been the arrival of Hugo Ekitike on Merseyside, a player who was heavily linked to Newcastle in early July.

The Frenchman joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m and has made an immediate impression on Merseyside. Yet Liverpool’s dream signing all along was Isak – just as Newcastle had long coveted Ekitike. Hindsight, of course, is a wonderful thing; one could easily imagine a scenario in which, had Liverpool not secured the Frenchman, Ekitike would be a Newcastle player, Isak a Red, and both sides equally satisfied.

Despite Ekitike joining a list of other high-profile targets missed out on this summer, Howe has signed Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale, Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey. Newcastle are also currently in hot pursuit of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa; who in an ironically similar scenario to Isak’s, has appeared to have downed his tools at Brentford in the hopes of forcing a move to Tyneside.

“Whenever you go through a window, there are ups and downs. It feels like there’s been quite a few downs in this one, but also quite a few positives as well,” Howe said in his pre-Liverpool press conference. “Of course, there’s one big challenging situation that’s not resolved. From that side, I can’t wait for the end of the window,” he added.

Despite the issues around Isak, Liverpool manager Slot does not feel Newcastle are a club with troubles: “It’s mainly difficult [facing Newcastle] because of the players they have there, not only because of the fans. The players can perform.” Slot said in his pre-match press conference. The Dutchman would not be drawn into questions concerning Isak: “It would be much nicer to talk about the players we have. I am very, very happy with the squad.”

Monday evening will see a summer defined by off pitch drama converge in one high-stakes meeting. Tensions that have simmered all summer are set to boil over between the two clubs and their fanbases, both on the pitch and in the stands. With one week remaining of the transfer window, it remains to be seen where Isak will be playing his football come September 1st.

“I’m not a fortune teller. I’ve got no way of knowing what will happen in the next few days,” Howe added when asked how he believes the saga will be resolved, “It’s a lose-lose situation. But he’s contracted to us, he’s our player.”