Alexander Isak to Liverpool: Will Newcastle United block deal after social media post from striker?

Newcastle United's failure to sign a replacement for Alexander Isak increases the chance of them blocking his move to Liverpool, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has insisted.

The Toon striker has been at the centre of a transfer saga amid interest from Arne Slot's side, and the situation escalated after the Swede released a statement on Tuesday, claiming that it would be best if a transfer was agreed.

Newcastle subsequently responded, saying in their own statement that the conditions of a sale had not yet been met, and their response has left some Liverpool fans feeling that the chances of signing Isak have deteriorated.

Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch admitted that the closer the window gets to closing, the more likely an Isak sale will be blocked, saying: "It's a bit of a concern you have to admit that Newcastle seemingly cannot sign a replacement.

"I see talk saying there's no chance that Newcastle are going to block the move on the basis that they can't sign someone due to their own incompetence, but Newcastle don't want to go into a season in which they compete in the Champions League with Anthony Gordon up front.

"I'm sure there is a point at which they would say 'we are going to flip the coin, roll the dice and rehabilitate Isak'. That feels like a live possibility at the moment."

The summer transfer window will close on September 1, and Newcastle have so far failed to land a number of key attacking targets.

Have Newcastle left the door open for Alexander Isak sale to Liverpool?

Though Newcastle's statement did leave some Liverpool fans less confident about the prospect of signing Isak, the Magpies still suggested that there are conditions that would allow them to sell the striker.

A bid for Brentford Yoane Wissa was rejected on Wednesday, but the club are still thought to be in the race for the attacker.

Lynch reminded supporters that Newcastle are still actively trying to make additions, when he told Sports Mole: "They are working on deals. It does feel like they're trying to delay, but we've seen talk of alternative striker targets. Strand Larsen at Wolves is one of a few on their list.

"Newcastle are pursuing those strikers for a reason. The player wants to move. Liverpool are there willing to pay a really massive fee, so all the ingredients are there, but I think it's fair for fans to be a little bit nervous about Newcastle getting one over the line.

"You would feel a lot better about if they were making solid moves towards that with two weeks of the window left, so fingers crossed they can get it sorted because then that will open up the route for Isak to come to Anfield."

Other strikers such as Nicolas Jackson and Ollie Watkins have been linked, though any fee for a forward with so little time left in the window would likely be significant.

Will Liverpool sign Isak after playing Newcastle in Premier League?

Liverpool are set to play Newcastle at St James' Park on Monday, and the atmosphere inside the stadium is certain to be intense due to Isak's transfer saga.

There have been suggestions that the Magpies could be waiting until after their clash against the Reds to sell the striker to save face in the transfer market given their struggles this summer.

When asked if Newcastle would be that cynical, Lynch insisted that it was the nature of football clubs, telling Sports Mole: "This is how football clubs operate, 100%. I've seen many stories of things like that. Football is a childish nonsense at times.

"I told the story earlier in the window when Newcastle had rebuffed an approach for Isak from Liverpool - this is before they made the official bid - and it was put to me that a lot of that noise came from the Newcastle side so that they could look strong in that moment.

"Football is stupid, it's completely daft at times, and it is childish. I absolutely think [waiting until after the game] would be a factor in the thinking. They wouldn't want Isak to come off the bench and potentially score the winner against them because of how that would make them look."

Liverpool agreed a deal to sell Ben Doak to Bournemouth in the days after they played the Cherries at Anfield on August 15, meaning the winger was not able to face the Reds, so perhaps Newcastle are taking a similar approach.

> Click here to listen to the full discussion on why whether Isak's move to Liverpool could be blocked