Alexander Isak selected by Sweden despite Newcastle United transfer stand-off
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Newcastle United's Alexander Isak has been sidelined as he tries to force a move to Liverpool.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
- Alexander Isak is named in Sweden's squad for World Cup qualifiers despite transfer standoff with Newcastle amid Liverpool interest.
- Isak stated he wants to leave Newcastle after feeling promises were broken, but Newcastle insist he is under contract.
- Sweden's coach Jon Dahl Tomasson values Isak's potential impact for the 2026 World Cup despite his lack of training.
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STOCKHOLM – Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak has been called up by Sweden for World Cup qualifiers, despite being sidelined by his club, as he tries to force a move to Liverpool.
Isak is part of Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson’s squad for the games against Slovenia and Kosovo on Sept 5 and 8.
The 25-year-old has been banished from the Newcastle squad and has been training alone ever since he missed the club’s tour to Singapore and South Korea.
Liverpool have bid £110 million (S$190.9 million) for Isak so far but Saudi-owned Newcastle are reported to have slapped a £150 million price tag on the player who scored 23 Premier League goals last season and helped his club win the League Cup.
Tomasson said the 2026 World Cup, to be played in Mexico, Canada and the United States, was “important” to Isak.
“The situation he is in is not perfect and he has not trained with his team,” the coach said.
“But he is a player who can be decisive and he wants to be part of our team. The World Cup is important for Alexander Isak.”
Isak’s stand-off with Newcastle has been the main Premier League transfer saga of the summer as the player insists he was told by the club he could leave.
He issued a statement on Aug 19 saying: “When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.”
That prompted a blunt answer from Newcastle, who said: “We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.”
Isak reportedly held talks with Newcastle’s senior management this week and insisted he still wants to join Liverpool, the reigning English Premier League champions.
As the clock ticks down to the end of the transfer window, Newcastle have had two bids for Norwegian international striker Jorgen Strand Larsen rejected by Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Meanwhile, Hugo Ekitike missed out on a place in the France squad named on Aug 27, but coach Didier Deschamps did hand a first senior call-up to highly-rated Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche.
Ekitike has made an impressive start to his Liverpool career with three goals in three competitive outings since arriving in the close-season from Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, the 23-year-old striker, who scored five goals in five appearances for the France Under-21 side last season, will have to wait for his chance in the senior squad, where competition is fierce. AFP
