Eddie Howe makes Alexander Isak U-turn after Liverpool interest and transfer blows

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has performed a U-turn over Alexander Isak, with the striker now NOT expected to feature in their upcoming friendly matches amid Liverpool's ongoing interest in signing him.

Isak missed Newcastle's tour of Asia and was the subject of a huge bid from Liverpool that Newcastle ultimately rejected. However, the Reds are set to reignite their interest in Isak once Darwin Nunez's move to Al-Hilal is complete.

Isak is currently training away from the first-team squad, but it had been previously suggested that Howe was ready to select him for Newcastle's upcoming pre-season friendlies against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid.

However, Howe has decided not to pick Isak for either of those games, as first reported by the Daily Mail. It's understood Newcastle are sticking to their stance that they will only sell Isak if they have his replacement lined up.

Newcastle value the 25-year-old at £150million and have already missed out on two potential replacements. Hugo Ekitike ended up signing for Liverpool, while Benjamin Sesko is on the verge of joining Manchester United.

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When asked about Isak's future earlier this week, Howe said: "You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United. The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad - you have to act in the right way.

"So that is also at play here. We will make sure that any player does that to earn the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.

"Of course I'd like him to be (there), but whether he will I don't know at this moment in time. We have been here with the time difference, preparing for training and for games. Other people have been dealing with that situation back at home."

Newcastle are now weighing up moves for a number of forwards, including Nicolas Jackson, Yoane Wissa and Ollie Watkins.

"We are looking at the best players we can get. We are only looking at the best we can get, I see all situations open and available to us," Howe said. "I feel that is the only way we are going to get where we want to go, which is to maximise quality over quantity. It has been a challenging summer as you know. We have missed out on loads of different targets for different reasons.

"But we are still very competitive and we are still in there trying to bring good players to the club, that won't change until the window shuts."

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