Liverpool target Alexander Isak has not travelled with the Newcastle United squad for their pre-season tour to Singapore, journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed.
Newcastle will face Arsenal at Singapore’s National Stadium on Sunday before heading to Seoul for tests against Team K League and Tottenham Hotspur next week.
Isak has been the subject of interest from Premier League champions Liverpool this summer, following another impressive individual campaign at St James’ Park.
The Sweden international netted 23 goals and provided six assists in 34 top-flight appearances last season, finishing as the league’s second-highest goalscorer behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Newcastle have made it clear that Isak is not for sale this summer, prompting Liverpool to shift their focus to Hugo Ekitike, whose £82m move to Anfield was announced on Wednesday.
Isak has also been linked with a shock move to the Saudi Pro League, and his agent, Gonzalo Gaitan, fuelled further speculation over his future by recently claiming the striker is ‘studying and analysing all options’.
Isak was left out of Newcastle’s 4-0 pre-season defeat to Celtic on Saturday, with manager Eddie Howe later confirming the decision was linked to ongoing speculation over the striker’s future.
The 25-year-old, who joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2022, has three years remaining on his contract, running until June 2028.
Isak is believed to be only the fourth-highest earner at Newcastle, with weekly wages of £120,000.