Liverpool transfer target Alexander Isak excluded from Newcastle family day as Eddie Howe holds firm on training stance

Isak has drawn the ire of the Newcastle coaching staff due to a series of actions seen as disrespectful. Most notably, he flew to Spain without informing his manager to use the facilities at his former club, Real Sociedad. This came shortly after he had removed himself from the club's pre-season tour of Asia, claiming a thigh issue. However, medical scans later revealed no signs of an injury. The striker now faces the consequences for going AWOL and has been barred from training with his teammates after he reported for duty on Wednesday morning.

Liverpool, meanwhile, remain keen on bringing Isak to Anfield and are reportedly preparing an improved offer after Newcastle rejected a £110 million ($146m) bid last Friday. The Merseyside club view Isak as a long-term solution for their frontline and are eager to finalise a deal before the end of the window.

However, Newcastle are standing firm on their stance and have told interested parties that no sale will take place unless a suitable replacement is secured first. They had been actively pursuing RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko as a potential replacement for Isak, but that avenue now appears closed with Manchester United having moved ahead in the race for the Slovenian. 

Howe did not hold back in his comments, emphasising the culture and standards that he expects at St. James' Park.

"You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United," said Howe in Seoul on Sunday. "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."

Isak, who arrived at Newcastle in 2022 and made a strong impression with his flair and finishing, now faces the prospect of being frozen out if relations do not improve. Meanwhile, Liverpool must wait and watch as their next move will probably hinge on whether Newcastle can quickly pivot to a new target in the market, after the Sesko saga.