Alexander Isak update: Liverpool-linked striker ‘adamant’ he will never play for Newcastle again amid transfer uncertainty

Liverpool-linked striker Alexander Isak has reportedly made it clear to Newcastle United that he intends to never play for the club again.

Isak is believed to have had his head turned after learning of interest from Premier League champions Liverpool, who have identified the 25-year-old as their top target in the remaining few weeks of the summer transfer window.

Speculation over the future of Isak has been rife throughout this summer, but talk of an exit from St James’ Park has intensified since reports emerged towards the end of last month claiming that the Sweden international had expressed a desire to leave the Magpies and explore his options.

Isak has not featured for Newcastle in pre-season amid Liverpool’s ongoing pursuit and although the striker still has three years remaining on his contract, his future with Eddie Howe’s side remains up in the air.

Newcastle’s owners have allegedly warned Isak that he is not for sale under any circumstances this summer, which is understood to have left the striker 'furious'.

Liverpool-linked Isak regards his Newcastle career as ‘finished’

Newcastle begin the 2025-26 Premier League season away to Aston Villa this weekend, but the anticipation is that Isak will miss the trip to Villa Park, according to The Athletic.

The report adds that Isak is adamant he will never represent Newcastle again, and even if the Magpies refuse to sell him before the September 1 deadline, he is said to regard his career at St James’s Park as 'finished' and has no desire to reintegrate himself into Howe’s squad.

Isak is understood to have made it clear to Newcastle that the 2024-25 season would be his last with the club, after being informed last summer that he would not be offered a new contract due to the Magpies’ need to comply with financial rules.

Those claims are said to have been denied by some at Newcastle, though, and the club believe that the striker was in fact planning to discuss the possibility of fresh terms to his existing deal and the end of last season, before interest from Liverpool emerged.

Big spenders Liverpool may need to fork out another £150m to sign Isak

Speaking to the press last weekend, Howe claimed to have no knowledge of Newcastle’s decision to block an exit for Isak, but he has insisted that the striker could yet remain at the club after the window closes.

Liverpool have already failed with one Premier League-record approach for Isak worth £110m, with Newcastle believed to be holding out for a figure closer to £150m.

Arne Slot’s side have already spent in excess of £250m this summer, breaking the British transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz in a deal which could rise to £116m, as well as pipping Newcastle to the £79m signing of Hugo Ekitike.

The potential addition of Isak, who has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for Newcastle since joining from Real Sociedad in 2023, could see Liverpool’s spending surpass the £400m mark this summer.

However, if the Reds fail to agree a deal to sign Isak, then they could allegedly consider a move for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who is also wanted by Newcastle.