Alexander Isak ruled out of Newcastle's final pre-season friendlies as striker continues to push for blockbuster Liverpool transfer

According to Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope, the 25-year-old will not play in Newcastle's final pre-season games against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid this weekend. This comes after telling the Magpies he wants to leave the club this summer.

In recent days and weeks, Isak has made it abundantly clear he wants a Newcastle exit amid links with Liverpool. It would take a bid well in excess of the British transfer record - £116 million ($159m) to recruit Florian Wirtz - to sign the Sweden international, who still has three years left on his contract. As he trains away from the first-team, the Magpies will try and rectify an awful transfer window with some new additions of their own.

The Mail's report adds that Isak won't be joining Liverpool until Newcastle have signed the strikers to replace him and Callum Wilson, who joined West Ham on a free transfer this summer. As a result, they are said to be considering moves for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Brentford's Yoane Wissa.

Amid Isak's transfer limbo, Newcastle face Espanyol on Friday and Atletico Madrid a day later in the Sela Cup. They then begin their Premier League campaign away to Unai Emery's Villa on August 16.