After more than three months on the sidelines, Alexander Isak is suddenly back in the spotlight.
Despite refusing to play for Newcastle United in a bid to push through a dream move to Liverpool, the Swedish striker has now been called up by his national team for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
A Standoff That Refuses to End
The saga between Isak and Newcastle has been dragging on for months.
The forward has made no secret of his desire to swap Tyneside for Anfield, even after Liverpool’s initial £110 million bid was turned down.
In protest, he’s stayed away from the pitch all season, working separately from the first-team squad.
His last competitive appearance dates back to May 25, the final day of last season.
Sweden Throw Him a Lifeline
Despite missing all of pre-season and being frozen out at Newcastle, Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has still placed faith in him.
Isak, who has 16 goals in 52 caps, has been named in the squad for crucial qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo.
Alongside him, Emil Krafth, Anthony Elanga, and Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres have also been included.
Explosive Claims on Social Media
Tensions escalated further last week when Isak released a fiery statement online.
He accused Newcastle of breaking promises and declared that the relationship with the club “can’t continue.”
That message only fueled speculation that he is determined to leave, no matter what.
Newcastle Refuse to Back Down
The Magpies, however, remain firm. Club chiefs have repeatedly said Isak is not for sale and have even tried to change his mind.
Daily Mail Sport revealed that co-owner Jamie Reuben and representatives from Newcastle’s Saudi ownership group met him at home, attempting one final push to convince him to stay.
Reports suggest they’re willing to put a new contract on the table if he recommits.
Howe Kept Out of the Loop
Interestingly, manager Eddie Howe seems to be watching events unfold from the sidelines as well.
He admitted to reporters that he’s “not party to the talks” and doesn’t know where things stand.
For a manager preparing for the season, that’s far from ideal.
Teammates Are Feeling the Void
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes also weighed in, admitting he hasn’t spoken to Isak in weeks.
The striker trains at different times, away from the rest of the squad.
Guimaraes confessed that it’s a tough situation for the players, especially since Isak scored more than 20 goals last season.
“We’re really missing our striker,” he said, adding that the situation is completely out of the squad’s control.
What Happens Next?
The big question now is whether Isak will feature for Sweden next week and, more importantly, whether Newcastle can patch things up with their star forward.
With Liverpool still circling and the player standing firm on his desire to leave, the saga looks far from over.
