Alexander Isak was a notable absentee as Newcastle began their pre-season fixture schedule with a trip to Scotland. They went up against Celtic and were backed by around 10,000 travelling fans at Parkhead. Eddie Howe named a relatively strong side but two of his most dependable players were nowhere to be seen.
Isak, who has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, was not included in the matchday squad. Joelinton was also overlooked but the 28-year-old was spotted among those on the bench despite not being listed on the team sheet. The same could not be said for Isak, who did not appear to travel with the rest of his team-mates.
His absence sent the rumour mill into overdrive but Newcastle were quick to provide an official explanation. They insisted that Isak and Joelinton were left out of the squad to manage their minutes in the early stages of pre-season, according to Sky Sports.
Both players suffered injuries at the end of the previous campaign, with Isak playing through a groin problem. It forced him to withdraw from the Sweden squad last month and he was given extra time to recover before returning to Newcastle for training.
Joelinton, meanwhile, was sidelined for the final month of last season because of a knee injury. He made his return to action last weekend, playing and scoring as Newcastle thumped Carlisle United in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
Isak’s absence came just days after the Magpies were approached by Liverpool regarding a potential move. No bid was submitted but the Reds were said to have informed Newcastle that they were interested in doing business.
Nothing came of it, though, with Newcastle making it clear that Isak was not for sale under any circumstances. Liverpool are now said to be advancing in talks to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
However, there is a chance they could revive their pursuit of Isak if Newcastle change their stance. They are ‘not closing the door’ on a potential move and could drop their interest in Ekitike if he becomes available, according to Fabrizio Romano.
It has also been reported that Al-Hilal are plotting a big-money bid for Isak, who remains tied down at Newcastle until the summer of 2028.
Both clubs are owned by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, but this would not pose any issues regarding a potential transfer.
Isak is unlikely to be keen on moving to Saudi Arabia, though. He scored 27 goals in 42 appearances last season, helping Newcastle to win the Carabao Cup and book their place in the Champions League.
His output was crucial to their success and he will be keen to prove himself against some of the best teams in the world next season.
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