Newcastle are preparing for a formal offer from Liverpool for Alexander Isak this week, after manager Eddie Howe confirmed there is no chance of the striker joining the squad on their Far East tour, according to the Daily Mail.
The 25-year-old is staying in Tyneside after ruling himself out of the pre-season tour due to a thigh injury.
Although subsequent scans came back clear, Isak will remain at home.
Isak has made it clear he wants to join Liverpool.
With the Premier League champions set to receive around £65million from the sale of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich, an official approach for Isak is now expected.
Newcastle’s owners will face a tough decision, as Howe admitted this weekend.
They must decide whether to negotiate and try to maximise the player’s value or reject all offers and insist that Isak stays.
Even within the squad here in Singapore, opinion is divided on which approach would be best for the club.
The message from the top remains that they want to keep their best players, but Isak’s desire to leave could force the owners into making a business decision – especially if Liverpool’s offer approaches £150million.
After confirming to the Daily Mail that Isak will not join the team in South Korea over the next week, Howe also addressed concerns about the situation distracting his players.
“It’s business as usual for the players,’ said the Newcastle boss. “Naturally we’re going to miss a player of Alex’s quality and the group are going to feel that.
“There’s no denying that. I can’t sit here and claim that they won’t. But they’re a very a professional group of players and they’re doing brilliantly as far as I can see in terms of managing the situation.”
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