Striker spent time recovering from a thigh injury at his former club rather than Newcastle
Alexander Isak has returned to training with Newcastle United after some time spent training at his former club Real Sociedad.
The Sweden striker missed Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia, officially due to a minor thigh injury. Rather than recover and train at the Magpies’ training grounds, the player preferred to head over to his former club Real Sociedad in Spain, where he worked with his personal staff.
Isak returned to Newcastle’s training ground on Monday, having flown back into the UK on Saturday.
Last week Newcastle turned down a £110m bid from Liverpool for the striker. Isak has told the Tyneside club he wants to explore a move away this summer, and it is likely he wants to join Liverpool.
Liverpool do not intend to return with an improved bid for Isak because of the speed with which their initial bid was rejected, according to sources close to the Premier League champions.
Newcastle have maintained that Isak is not for sale and even their £150m valuation of him is only for accounting purposes. Unless the player agitates for a move, it is unlikely they will sanction a deal.
Last week, the Magpies lodged an €80m bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko but he is not to be taken as a replacement for Isak, as the club have always wanted to sign a high-quality centre forward this summer in addition to Isak.
