Alexander Isak wants to leave Newcastle, asked not to go on pre-season tour

Alexander Isak wants to leave Newcastle United, multiple sources privy to the situation have told The Athletic.

The Sweden international’s absence from Newcastle’s pre-season friendly at Celtic and tour to Asia was a preference of the 25-year-old striker, although the club has not confirmed this.

Newcastle have been determined to retain Isak on an improved contract — his existing terms run until June 2028 — but are also exploring potential replacements in case he departs.

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The club insisted Isak was left behind because of a minor thigh problem but sources, speaking anonymously as they were not authorised to do so publicly, indicate the forward favoured being omitted amid his uncertain future.

Liverpool have previously communicated their interest in Isak and over doing a deal in the region of £120million. Newcastle’s stance has consistently been that the player is not for sale.

Both Newcastle and Liverpool were interested in Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike before the Merseyside club closed a transfer worth an initial £69m earlier this week.

Isak has established himself as one of the most prolific forwards in European football and only Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah (29) scored more than him (23) in the Premier League last season.

He joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in August 2022 for a fee in the region of £60m and has made 109 appearances since.

Last season he scored 27 goals in all competitions, including one in the Carabao Cup final to help secure Newcastle their first domestic trophy in 70 years.

Isak has made 52 appearances for Sweden, scoring 16 since his debut in 2017.

‘A hammer blow for Newcastle’

Analysis from Newcastle United correspondent Chris Waugh

This has felt like the direction of travel for a while, especially after the Celtic omission — yet if Isak is keen to explore opportunities away from Tyneside, then this really will strike like a hammer blow.

Newcastle have been resolute, from the boardroom through to Eddie Howe, that Isak is not for sale. And that position remains — though it was always dependent on Isak accepting that stance.

Should the striker really agitate to go, and there is a willing buyer able to cough up an eye-watering sum acceptable to Newcastle, then how absolute Newcastle’s resolve is will finally be tested.

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Regardless of whether Isak now stays, Howe will have a job getting the Sweden international’s head right and that risks affecting the start of Newcastle’s season.

At Celtic, Will Osula’s persistent rawness was evident, while Sean Neave, the 18-year-old academy graduate, is the next out-and-out striker in line to play, following Callum Wilson’s exit.

Missing out on Liam Delap — and more recently Hugo Ekitike — has been damaging, especially considering Newcastle are struggling to lure their top attacking targets. A deal for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa is yet to progress due to the 28-year-old’s asking price, and it is getting close to the point where Newcastle may even need a second striker to arrive, should the Isak situation develop.

This really has been a second successive summer of upheaval at St James’ Park — one that the club really could not afford to have.

(Photo: George Wood/Getty Images)

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