Alexander Isak’s fury as Newcastle tell him: You’re going nowhere

Exclusive: Club’s Saudi owners put their foot down and insist Sweden striker will not join Liverpool this summer

Alexander Isak has been told by the Newcastle United board he is not for sale this summer and will not be allowed to join Liverpool, in a show of defiance from the club’s Saudi owners.

Newcastle’s steadfast position on the matter has caused acrimony and tension, with Isak refusing to accept the decision with good grace. He has subsequently been ordered by manager Eddie Howe to train away from the group.

Until Isak is willing to get his head around the fact that he will be denied a move in this transfer window, he will not play for the club.

It is a high-risk approach from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns Newcastle, but its position, as revealed by Telegraph Sport last month, has always been the same.

Liverpool were made aware of Newcastle’s refusal to consider a sale when they had a bid worth around £110m rejected last week, hence their decision to back away from the transfer. Liverpool have indicated they will not bid again unless Newcastle change their position, which sources have reaffirmed to Telegraph Sport is extremely unlikely, even if they sign another striker.

Howe has been aware of the club’s stance for some time and has been left to try to smooth things over with the Sweden international, which is proving difficult and is severely testing the manager’s patience.

Speaking after his side’s 2-2 friendly draw with Espanyol at St James’ Park on Friday night, Howe said it was “clear” that he “can’t involve” Isak as things stand.

‘It’s clear we can’t involve him with the group’

The striker informed the club while they were on the way out to Singapore for a pre-season tour that he wanted to explore his options for a move. Isak missed the tour of Asia with a “minor thigh injury”, but went on to train alone at former club Real Sociedad without Newcastle’s permission.

Howe had previously warned no player could expect to act “poorly and train with the group as normal”. He has not closed the door on Isak – who is training alone after the rest of the squad have left the building – playing for Newcastle again, but stressed that the situation “has to be right for that to happen”.

And speaking after Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid on Saturday night – which meant a return of two draws and four losses from their pre-season fixtures – Howe said: “It is a decision that I won’t make, that will be for other people to make. For me I am just trying to manage the situation.

“And manage the team most importantly, manage the group of players I am working with day to day. I love coaching and helping, we are focused on Aston Villa. Everything else, from my perspective, is not in my control, so it is not my focus.”

Pushed on whether Isak will play for the club again, Howe added: “I think everything is still in play, he is contracted to us, he is our player. The club basically make the decision on his future.

“I don’t know what that will be. Of course, I have a preferred outcome, I want the best and strongest squad possible. I want the players that really want to play for this football club.”

Newcastle, though, have resisted the temptation to discipline the player, which is a key move as they intend to reintegrate the 25-year-old gradually when he realises he cannot force his way out of the club.

Isak has three years left on his contract and has been told a new deal will be negotiated – almost certainly with a release clause – when the transfer window shuts in September. They know there is no point in trying to agree to a wage increase at the moment with emotions running high.

Isak’s representatives have infuriated the Newcastle hierarchy, who believe the player has been badly advised. Multiple sources have strenuously denied there was a gentleman’s agreement in place for Isak to leave this summer and at no stage where they informed last season that the player intended it to be his last on Tyneside.

There is also anger at the way Liverpool have behaved and there was bafflement at their bid last week given it was nowhere near Newcastle’s £150m valuation.

Newcastle have tried to sign several forward players this summer, but none of them were seen as a direct replacement for Isak.

The club’s refusal to sell has universal backing at boardroom level with co-owner Jamie Reuben also belligerent in the face of a naked attempt by a player to force his way out of the club and the apparent attempts to unsettle him.

Whether Liverpool are willing to accept defeat remains to be seen. Given Isak’s state of mind, they may still feel the door is ajar for a British record bid to test the club’s resolve.

The transfer window is open until September 1, leaving a potentially excruciatingly long time for the stand-off to continue.

Howe chose his words carefully when speaking to the media on Friday night and will give Isak the time and space he needs to accept the club’s decision. But Newcastle clearly have an unhappy player on their hands and will be without their leading goalscorer for the start of the Premier League campaign.

Newcastle supporters, who once idolised Isak, are understandably furious with the player and dismayed by his conduct. Nevertheless, Newcastle’s board believe the player can be reintegrated and will go on to have a successful season at the club.