JAKARTA - Alexander Isak was not included in Newcastle United's squad for a pre-season tour of Asia amid speculation that continues about his future.
However, Newcastle parried. The Magpies, who chose 30 players for the pre-season tour, including new player Anthony Elanga, said that Isak would miss the tour due to a minor thigh injury.
Newcastle's rebuttal is nothing wrong. However, speculation about Isak's future, which is linked to a number of clubs, could also be the reason the striker chose not to take part in the pre-season tour.
ESPN reported earlier this week that Al Hilal had explored an agreement for Isak. He is also linked with a move to the 2024/2025 Premier League champions, Liverpool.
In fact, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday, July 24, 2025, that Isak had informed Newcastle of his desire to consider his choice.
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Isak was no longer included in Newcastle's friendly match against Celtic on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Howe said he could not guarantee that Isak would remain in Newcastle at the end of the transfer market.
"I think it's difficult for me to provide 100 percent clarity about any player."
"I'm never going to sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what can happen."
"However, Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players who play with him, the staff, the team. I've never had a problem with him," Howe said.
Isak scored 27 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle for the 2024/2025 season, helping the team qualify for the Champions League and win the Carabao Cup.
The Swedish National Team player joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 on a long-term contract.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will face Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday, July 27, 2025, before facing the All-Star K-League team in South Korea on July 30, 2025.
They will then face Tottenham Hotspur on August 3, 2025 and close pre-season with two home friendly matches against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid on August 8 and August 9, 2025.
The Magpies will start the Premier League campaign at Aston Villa headquarters on August 16, 2025, before hosting Liverpool the following week.
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