Alexander Isak has moved a step closer to Liverpool after Newcastle banished the striker from training on Wednesday.
The Daily Mail reports that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe excluded Isak from training and a family day on Wednesday due to his conduct in trying to push through a record move to Liverpool.
This is in response to some poor behaviour by Isak, who flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad last week without permission from Howe.
Howe problems with Newcastle
Isak also pulled out of Newcastle’s tour to the Far East citing a thigh injury which scans showed was not present.
“You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United,” Howe said in Seoul on Sunday.
“The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad – you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here.
“We will make sure that any player does that to earn the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.”
These problems between Isak and Newcastle appear to be pushing the player closer to Liverpool.
Isak has requested to leave Newcastle this summer in order to join the English champions.
Liverpool had an initial bid for Isak turned down last week but are now understood to be preparing a new and improved second offer for the Newcastle striker.
The 25-year-old has been widely reported to already have an agreement in principle with Liverpool on personal terms.
Isak’s agent Gonzalo Gaitan appeared to confirm on Tuesday that a move to Liverpool is close.
He told Saudi Arabian outlet Arriyadiyah via The Daily Express: “We are already studying and analysing all options, and we may be close to finalising the next step for the player.”
Isak is desperate to leave Newcastle after having his head turned by Liverpool, and the Reds presented their first official offer on Friday.
However, Newcastle rejected the bid as they remain firm in their stance, publicly, that he is not for sale.
The exact value of the bid has been the subject of debate, but it is believed that it clocked in at somewhere around €126 million plus a potential €11m in bonuses.
Newcastle are reportedly demanding as much as €172m to sell the player.
Such a bid will smash the current British transfer record of €136m that Liverpool paid for Florian Wirtz earlier this summer.
Isak has asked to leave Newcastle – with contract renewal talks collapsing – as the club are unwilling to meet his €350,000 a week wage demnds.
The Swede is also unhappy at Newcastle’s lack ofo ambition in the transfer market.
In order to afford Isak, Liverpool have begun offloading a number of players.
Luis Diaz has completed his €75m move to Bayern Munich, Darwin Nunez is for sale and will bring in well over €50m, while Italy winger Federico Chiesa will be sold for around €12-15m – probably to Serie A.
Liverpool will also look to offload Harvey Elliott for a decent price.
The Reds have already had a heavy spending summer, with over €300m spent.
Isak has emerged as one of the best strikers in European football over the past couple of seasons.
He joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad for €73m in 2022.
The 25-year-old has gone on to score 62 goals in 109 games for Newcastle.
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