Liverpool receive BIZARRE update in chase for Alexander Isak | OneFootball

Liverpool have been sitting back and letting the updates on Alexander Isak at Newcastle unfold over the past few weeks, and the Magpies have been left to squirm while he remains at the club.

Of course, transfer speculation over a player can be disruptive in itself, but once a player has made it clear that they want to leave, the situation quickly becomes untenable for all parties to still coexist.

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Replacement strikers for the Swede have been heavily considered by Newcastle, although most have rejected them in quite hilarious fashion, with Benjamin Sesko recently joining Manchester United.

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As such, a decision has to be made on Isak's future before the window closes, whether it is possible for him to remain at Newcastle this season, or if a resolution to his sage is reached with a transfer.

Report: Isak is going nowhere

One of the journalists that as extensively covered the Isak story this summer has been Luke Edwards at The Telegraph and on Saturday afternoon, he posted a bizarre update to Newcastle's perspective.

He said: "Alexander Isak has been told by the Newcastle United board he is not for sale this summer and will not be allowed to join Liverpool in a show of defiance from the club's Saudi owners.

"Newcastle's steadfast position on the matter has caused acrimony and tension, with Isak refusing to accept the decision with good grace. He has subsequently been ordered by Manager Eddie Howe to train away from the group. Until Isak is willing to get his head around the fact that he will be denied a move in this transfer window, he will not play for the club.

Liverpool were made aware of Newcastle's refusal to consider a sale when they had a bid rejected worth around £110m rejected last week, hence their decision to back away from the transfer. Liverpool have indicated they will not bid again unless Newcastle change their position, which sources have reaffirmed to Telegraph Sport is extremely unlikely, even if they sign another striker."

It's a truly blockbuster amount of fuel to add to the fire, not least because no other journalists have backed up the claims and Isak's defiant attitude surely makes this a nonsensical decision. After all, the player might well be quite happy to not play for the Magpies and they'll miss out on over £100m.

Furthermore, every time a player is forced to remain at the club against their will has ended badly.

Manchester United themselves are still dealing with the ramifications of Marcus Rashford's desire to leave since no one has offered to take them up on an offer to give him a permanent contract. Isak's fee is unlikely to remain at the British transfer record level. The player will simply go on strike.

Only this summer was Isak pictured training at his former club in Real Sociedad while the rest of his teammates were on the club's pre-season tour. That was a clear an obvious act of dissent.

So while his departure might still follow the Philipe Coutinho blueprint, it feels difficult to believe that Newcastle would actively choose to keep him this season when he has made it abundantly clear that he wants out - especially since it feels like Isak's wishes to play elsewhere are reasonable.

Of course, there are still three weeks left of the transfer window and a lot can still change, but this update has certainly put a dampener on things and left many confused about what happens next.