Newcastle provide Alexander Isak transfer update amid Liverpool interest

Alexander Isak informed Newcastle United that he would not be joining their pre-season tour and was interested in a transfer elsewhere this summer

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has insisted that talks have taken place with Alexander Isak but negotiations over a new contract have ended for now.

This week, it emerged that the Swede has not flown out to Singapore for the start of their pre-season tour.

It was later claimed that Isak was interested in leaving Newcastle this summer. This evidently has caught the eye of Liverpool despite them having signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Addressing the future of Isak in his press conference on Saturday morning, Howe told the media: “Of course there are things going on behind the scenes. Conversations that happen between Alex and myself and Alex and the club will stay private.

READ MORE: Five transfers Liverpool can complete before final month of summer windowREAD MORE: Alexander Isak to Liverpool transfer plan revealed as ‘advanced talks’ claim made

“Whatever happens has to be for the best of the club. There are no contract talks taking place.

“That will be for a later date potentially. I certainly hope he stays. It’s football, who knows what the future may bring.”

The update surrounding the future of Isak appears to be a massive blow for Newcastle. It is understood they were interested in signing Ekitike this summer as an addition to Isak but missed out when Liverpool swooped in.

Newcastle are currently insistent that the Swede is not for sale and, even if he were, his price tag is likely to be in the region of £150 million. However, practically, that may not be possible to achieve.

If Liverpool were to complete a move for Isak, it would be seen as a huge statement of intent. They would more than likely need to sell in order to do that business with some reports suggesting they would be willing to part with Darwin Nunez to make the move happen.

There has been interest from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal throughout the summer and, according to the journalist Ben Jacobs, that has not gone away.

For the latest news and breaking news visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter @‌LivEchoLFC – the official Liverpool ECHO LFC Twitter account – for all the latest LFC news as it happens in real time.

We’re also on Facebook/LiverpoolEchoLFC – your must-see LFC news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.

Listen to our podcasts by searching for ‘Blood Red’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Sign up to one of the Liverpool Echo’s free daily and weekly newsletters on Liverpool FC by clicking here.