Alexander Isak left out of Newcastle United squad as Liverpool consider transfer

Alexander Isak left out of Newcastle United squad as Liverpool consider transfer

 

Alexander Isak has been left out of Newcastle United’s squad for their Far East tour as Liverpool continue to consider a sensational move for the striker. Isak is not part of a 30-man squad for the Magpies travelling to Asia for games against Arsenal in Singapore and later both a K-League All-Star team and Tottenham Hotspur in South Korea. The Sweden international is absent as he is nursing a minor thigh injury that forced him to miss Newcastle’s 4-0 friendly thrashing at Celtic last weekend. Despite having on Wednesday completed an initial £69million move for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, the Reds are still in the market for further reinforcements in their attack and believe Isak, who scored 27 goals in 42 appearances for Newcastle last season, would bolster their firepower.

 

Liverpool are monitoring developments with the 25-year-old, although it would take an offer in the region of £120m for Newcastle to even contemplate a sale. The Magpies remain adamant Isak is going nowhere during this summer’s transfer window, although they have yet to agree a lucrative new contract with the player first mooted last year.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are overseeing a major overhaul of the squad that romped to a record-equalling 20th championship last season.

 

 

The deal for Ekitike has taken their summer spending beyond £250m after the captures of club record £116m signing Florian Wirtz, £29m Jeremie Frimpong, £40m Milos Kerkez and £1.5m goalkeeper duo Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman.