Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak not in pre-season Asia tour squad

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has missed out on the club’s pre-season tour to Asia amid Liverpool interest, per reports.

The Swedish international has been linked with a move to Anfield throughout the summer transfer window; however, the Premier League champions appear to have moved on from earlier strong interest in the prolific forward.

Liverpool, on Wednesday, confirmed the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike on a deal worth a staggering £79m, with £69m guaranteed and £10m in add-ons.

Read more: Barcelona confirms Marcus Rashford signing from Man United

The 25-year-old has not joined Newcastle’s squad for their trip to Singapore to face Arsenal in a friendly on Sunday, having also missed last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Celtic in Glasgow, Scotland.

Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has attributed Isak’s absence from the Celtic match to the impact of transfer speculation. Although the club insists the Swedish international forward is sidelined due to an ongoing thigh injury, this has fueled rumors suggesting he may be pushing for a significant move away from Newcastle.

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs affirms the club’s stance on Isak’s absence from Newcastle’s trip to Asia on his X page.

Read more: Chelsea ‘advancing’ in talks to sign Leipzig star Xavi Simons

Isak has been at the heart of transfer rumors for months, with both Liverpool and Arsenal reportedly viewing him as a ‘dream’ target this summer. However, Arsenal have shifted focus, opting for compatriot Viktor Gyokeres instead.

Liverpool remain optimistic about securing a Premier League-record deal, fueled by reports that Isak is seeking a new contract at Newcastle worth £300,000-per-week, which would significantly exceed the club’s current wage structure.

Despite confirming Ekitike’s €95 million signing from Frankfurt on Wednesday, Liverpool are still considering the possibility of adding both strikers to their squad, even after spending over €300 million this summer.

Newcastle have firmly maintained that Isak is not for sale under any circumstances. However, any potential buyer, including Liverpool, would need to exceed the former Real Sociedad striker’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €116 million, with a reported €135 million fee being the amount Liverpool are prepared to offer.

Read more: Manchester United sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford