Newcastle set to punish Alexander Isak as Liverpool transfer saga escalates

Newcastle United are set to impose a club fine on Alexander Isak should he miss the first match of the Premier League season, as the striker is keen to secure a transfer to Liverpool. The Swedish international faces a penalty as his refusal to play for the Magpies coincides with their match against Aston Villa.

Isak has been pushing for a move to Liverpool this summer and hasn't trained with Eddie Howe's first team since their pre-season tour of Asia. The club's leading striker has been training separately from his teammates, who helped the club secure a Champions League spot last season.

Liverpool have already had a bid turned down by Newcastle this summer. Initially, Newcastle stated that the forward was not available for sale and it's not anticipated that the Reds will make another offer unless they're encouraged to do so.

However, Isak isn't ready to give up on a transfer and has declared he won't play for Newcastle again, no matter how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks. This stance could lead to the 25-year-old being penalised.

Despite the ongoing standoff, the former Real Sociedad star continues to receive his weekly wages of £140,000. No fine has been imposed yet, despite his declaration that he won't play for the club.

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According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle's position will change once Isak misses a competitive match, at which point disciplinary action will be taken. The Magpies are set to kick off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Aston Villa.

Isak's position is said to be steadfast, with concerns that any softening of his stance would only give Newcastle hope of a resolution and scupper any chance of a transfer.

Despite edging closer to signing Yoane Wisse, the St James' Park outfit have yet to find an adequate replacement for their main striker.

Howe has admitted that the current predicament has thrown a spanner in his squad's pre-season preparations. "I think morale was certainly affected early on during pre-season," he confessed.

"There was nothing I could do to affect that - it was always going to be there. When you have a player that good who is not part of your group, it's difficult for the players to fully understand it and to know what's going on and how to react.

"But, as time has gone on, there has been an acceptance that this is the squad and we have got to make the best of the situation. That's always been my train of thought.

"Whatever situation you're in, you have got to find a way and you can only control what you can control. We have moved forward and I've got to say the atmosphere of the group has been very good in the last couple of weeks."