![\"Eddie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_GettyImages-2189936952.jpg\")
Eddie Howe with Alexander Isak(Image: Stu Forster\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nAlexander Isak is expected on Newcastle United’s pre-season tour of the Far East despite attracting interest from Liverpool and ongoing uncertainty about his futureEddie Howe with Alexander Isak(Image: Stu Forster\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Liverpool might be closing in on the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, but that has not stopped speculation about their interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. The Reds have agreed a deal worth up to \u00a379m with the Bundesliga outfit, with the Frenchman set to undergo a medical on Tuesday ahead of finalising his move to Anfield<\/a>.<\/p>\n Including the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose \u00a329m switch from Valencia was agreed last summer, the signing of Ekitike will take Liverpool\u2019s spend to just short of \u00a3300m.<\/p>\n But the Reds\u2019 business might not end there with further attacking recruits and a new centre-back also possible arrivals.<\/p>\n READ MORE: I lost my star striker to Liverpool – Alexander Isak’s head will have been turned by transfer talk<\/a>READ MORE: Alexander Isak agent has left door open for Liverpool transfer as intrigue grows<\/a><\/p>\n Liverpool are likely to need at least a second new forward, given the ongoing uncertainty regarding the futures of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Federico Chiesa.<\/p>\n Yet having committed to spending up to \u00a379m on Ekitike, the jury is out on whether the Reds would then follow that up by also making a move for Isak – who would cost over \u00a3120m.<\/p>\n The Swede\u2019s future remains up in the air regardless, after he was left out of the Newcastle squad for their friendly defeat to Celtic on Saturday. Eddie Howe would confirm such a decision was made in response to the ongoing transfer speculation.<\/p>\n One of Isak\u2019s agents, Gonzalo Gaitan, would then set tongues wagging and prompt further uncertainty and speculation when admitting that they are weighing up \u2018all options\u2019 for the Swede.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are indeed studying and analysing all options,\u201d he said in an interview with Saudi Arabian publication Arriyadiyah. \u201cAnd we may be close to finalising the next step for the player, without revealing any details regarding whether Isak will transfer or stay with Newcastle.”<\/p>\n With the uncertainty around Isak\u2019s future stemming from Newcastle\u2019s failure to offer him a new long-term contract with a warranted pay-rise, his representatives are evidently \u2018playing the game\u2019 when it comes to their client\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Fuelling the uncertainty will only strengthen their hand when it comes to deciding the Swede\u2019s future, be it being rewarded with the contract he wants at St. James\u2019 Park or earning a big-money move away.<\/p>\n And off the back of such comments, if we then take a closer look at Howe\u2019s own responses during his various post-match media duties after losing to Celtic, it is clear Isak\u2019s future is by no means as secure as he would like it to be.<\/p>\n While insisting the Magpies had not received a formal approach from Liverpool, he admitted he could not offer 100% clarity on Isak\u2019s future and would only go as far as sharing his belief he will still be a Newcastle player when their season starts on August 16.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, there\u2019s been no formal approach,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s difficult for me to give 100% clarity on any player.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d never sit here and do that because it\u2019s football and you never know what can happen. All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never had any issue with him other than I\u2019m really enjoying seeing his talent and seeing him express himself. Certainly, I\u2019m confident that he\u2019s going to be here at the start of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a few players like that who I think are irreplaceable. Your top players are so hard to find, they\u2019re so hard to recruit, they\u2019re so hard to develop and make them into those players.<\/p>\n \u201cSo when you have them, you need to treasure him. We certainly, on the staff, recognise his talent and his ability. We are of course desperate to keep him part of our team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was purely the last thing Alex wants if he\u2019s not playing is to be sat in the stand. Being under that scrutiny, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s fair to the player.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he wasn\u2019t going to play today, which we agreed, mutually agreed that he needs a little bit more training time, then it\u2019s best he\u2019s not here.\u201d<\/p>\n Howe would also confirm it had been his decision to send Isak home as he admitted he had spoken to the strike about his future.<\/p>\n \u201cI chose to send him home,\u201d he said. \u201cThe last thing Alex wants if he is not playing is to be sat in the stand and under that scrutiny, then if he wasn’t going to play today, we mutually agreed he shouldn’t be here.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. Both [Joelinton and Isak] are fit but not ready to play. Alex has trained and is fine but we didn’t want to take the risk with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I’ve had discussions with him, but that’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realise there’ll be noise around him.\u201d<\/p>\n