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Topics: Alexander Isak, Newcastle United, Premier League, Transfers, Liverpool, Football
Ryan Smart
Topics: Alexander Isak, Newcastle United, Premier League, Transfers, Liverpool, Football
Newcastle may need to prepare themselves for a nightmare scenario over Alexander Isak's future amid the continuation of his Liverpool transfer saga.
Isak has been linked with a move to Liverpool for much of the summer, and was left out of Newcastle's opening game of the season against Aston Villa.
The Daily Mail's Craig Hope claims that he is effectively 'on strike', and he has been training away from the squad since the Magpies returned from their pre-season tour of Asia.
Isak, who is under contract until 2028, released a public statement on Instagram on Tuesday night in which he claimed that Newcastle had broken promises to him.
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He said: "Promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
"When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now."
In response, Newcastle stated that they were 'disappointed' with Isak and denied that any club official had told the striker he could leave this summer.
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They added that the club has 'been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired'.
"Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his team-mates," the statement concluded.
According to Capology, Isak currently earns £120,000-per-week at St James' Park, with his contract not due to expire until 2028.
In the unlikely scenario that Newcastle keep Isak but the striker continues to be unavailable until January, the Magpies would effectively be paying the 25-year-old a sum of £2.28 million to not play for the club.
Such a scenario would surely reduce the Magpies' selling power in terms of the fee they could attract for the Sweden international.
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According to the Daily Mail's Craig Hope, however, Newcastle had not decided to fine Isak prior to the striker missing Saturday's 0-0 draw with Villa. But that stance is now understood to be set to change.
Solicitor and former Premier League defender Gareth Farrelly told Sky News in December that clubs can fine a player a maximum of two weeks' basic wage for a first offence of gross misconduct, and four weeks' basic wage for subsequent offences within a 12-month period.
Gross misconduct can simply be classed as unprofessional behaviour by an employee, though it is unclear whether Isak's behaviour would meet that threshold.