Alexander Isak has told Newcastle United that he wants to explore his options in the current transfer window after the club rebuffed interest from Liverpool and other clubs.
The 25-year-old Swedish striker who scored 27 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle last season has so far been omitted from their pre-season tour of Asia.
Strangely the club did not include him in their 30-man squad for the games in Singapore and South Korea with manager Eddie Howe claiming that he “misses out with a minor thigh injury”.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer criticised the reason given by the club as “ridiculous”.
“It’s ridiculous what Newcastle put out this morning to say he wasn’t on the trip because of a slight thigh injury,” said Shearer.
“If they thought people wouldn’t see through that… it was disappointing.
“They should have just told the truth straight away. I understand it’s a very difficult situation for them, but it is what it is.
“Eddie Howe has to use all his persuasive powers to do what he can and try to make him stay at least one more year. If that can’t happen then it is what it is.
“You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150m, and if he really, really wants to go, you can’t step in his way.”
A few weeks ago Newcastle had their bid of £70m rejected for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike prompting speculation they were preparing for Isak’s potential exit to Liverpool.
After Liverpool were told Isak was not for sale, the Merseyside club decided to pursue Ekitike and have since signed him for an initial £69m.
Now it’s being reported that Liverpool are still interested in signing Isak and the player is agitating for the move to become a reality. Newcastle value the striker at a staggering £150m.
