00:00So, another week and yet more Alexander-Izac transfer news.
00:04Now, we all know the story of the summer.
00:06Izac didn't travel with the team.
00:08First to Celtic Park for their game against Celtic
00:10and then to their trip to Asia, to South Korea and Singapore.
00:15When he was a tourmaster, the team were waiting on lots of news
00:17over his future and Liverpool's interest.
00:20Izac went to go train at Real Sociedad for a bit as well.
00:22So, lots of speculation over his future.
00:24He's really dominated the summer.
00:26And news broke Monday morning that Izac has returned to training
00:30at Darcy Park at Newcastle United for the first time
00:33since the group jetted off to Asia.
00:36So, as much as this is all, you know, man returns to work kind of story,
00:39it is a big moment for Newcastle and for Eddie Howe.
00:42You know, Howe had some strong words about the whole situation.
00:46Normally quite a reserved character, you know, very meticulous in what he says,
00:49but that was clearly a pointed message to Izac, to his representatives,
00:52you know, what he said in Asia about having to, you know,
00:56re-integrate himself in the group and that you can't sort of, you know,
01:00disrespect the club almost and just, you know, return seamlessly.
01:04So, it'll be interesting to see how that dynamic works.
01:06I think Izac and Howe will have face-to-face chats, of course,
01:09over the next couple of days.
01:10But, yeah, you know, the trip's finished now to Asia.
01:14All the team will be back.
01:15They've given the day off today.
01:16They'll all be back in training sort of in this week.
01:18And then they've got two games at the weekend against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid.
01:22It'll be really interesting how, if he's involved in any of those games,
01:26if he's involved in both and neither,
01:29what developments with Liverpool will take place between now and then.
01:33Because, of course, there's still four days to run before that game.
01:35So, there could be developments with Liverpool.
01:37They obviously had a bid rejected last week.
01:39£110 million was, in my opinion, a derisory offer.
01:43I think that everyone knows it's going to take at least a British record fee.
01:46Liverpool have already spent a British record fee this summer.
01:48So, the fact that then valuing Isak, who scored so many Premier League goals,
01:53you know, was the second-top scorer last season,
01:57but I know only Liverpool's Mo Salah,
01:59and has consistently delivered the goods in the Premier League
02:01to then bid £110 million,
02:03less than you pay for Florian Wirtz, who's untested in the Premier League,
02:06is, it was a disappointing offer from Liverpool.
02:09And I think Isak will be disappointed by that.
02:10Of course, he made it clear that he wants to go to Liverpool.
02:13But to see the way Liverpool have valued him
02:18from what everyone else values him,
02:20Newcastle United have said £150 million.
02:23Whether it gets done at that, you know,
02:25it might be a little bit less,
02:26but it's going to take a British record fee as a said.
02:28And, yeah, Liverpool will need to up their offer.
02:30That might happen this week, you know,
02:31there might be movements on that.
02:33But right now, it's hard,
02:34because Newcastle United need to focus on their on-field matters.
02:37You know, they've had a decent...
02:39Anyhow, we'll say they've had a decent pre-season.
02:41You know, it's all about minutes in the tank and all that.
02:44But right now, you know, they've lost three games in a row.
02:46Of course, ended that with a 1-1 draw against Spurs,
02:48which is a slightly more promising performance.
02:50But with less than two weeks ago before the start of the season,
02:52you'd hope that them performances really kick on.
02:54That'll be, you know, find out on Friday when they play Espanyol
02:57and then Saturday after that go Madrid.
02:59So, yeah, it'll be interesting to see how they get on the pitch.
03:02And, of course, the off-field matters with Isak as well.
03:03I think that everyone will be very hopeful
03:06that this situation can be resolved one way or another.
03:08And hopefully, then, you know, I still think that a lot of fans,
03:13as much as it's a big...
03:15You know, it has taken a lot of fans this summer.
03:17I think that the end result, the best result for Newcastle,
03:20would be that Isak can stay and mend those bridges
03:23and get back to scoring goals.
03:24Because we all know he can do it.
03:25We've all seen it all with our eyes for the last two and a bit years.
03:29Hopefully, he can do that.
03:30But it's going to take a long, long road back for him,
03:32where he is now, currently, to them.
03:35These face-to-face talks with Eddie Howe, obviously,
03:36could smooth that path.
03:38He could be re-indigrated on the team and all is merry.
03:41But I'm sure this is not the last time I'll be mentioned
03:43that Alexander is like on one of these transfer videos.
03:45And, of course, the best way you can stay up to do it
03:47with all the latest Isak news
03:49and all the latest transfer news from Newcastle United
03:51is with the Shields Gazette.
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