What Alexander Isak could well do next if Liverpool transfer is totally blocked by Newcastle

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has insisted that Alexander Isak will quickly return to action for Newcastle United, if the Magpies refuse to let him leave the club this summer. Isak was absent for the club's pre-season after failing to join his team-mates on their tour of the Far East, and he hasn't featured in the Premier League either.

Liverpool have already had a £110million bid rejected for the striker, which eventually led to Isak and Newcastle each releasing fiery statements this week regarding their respective stance on the ongoing saga.

Magpies fans have voiced their angerat the Swedish star, who was left out of the opening fixture of the new campaign against Aston Villa. It's expected he will also be unavailable for Monday's encounter with Liverpool.

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"Even if Liverpool go up a bit [with their bid], I don't see how Newcastle can let him go when they've got nobody to play centre-forward," Murphy said on talkSPORT.

"It's just simple. What's he going to do? He's got his World Cup year. He's got to keep playing to keep the interest in him if he goes next summer. What choice have you got?

"You've got to play football. Even if you have to apologise, you have to hold your hands up... whatever it is, he's got to play football."

Earlier this week, Isak claimed Newcastle had reneged on assurances given to him before the summer. That appeared to be a last-ditch attempt to engineer a departure with fewer than two weeks remaining in the summer transfer window, reports Liverpool.com.

"They've got a £60m asset, they've got a three-year contract left, and we're having this discussion about a gentleman's agreement," Simon Jordan added.

"People are actually believing it. People listen to 'broken promises' and then you get idiots like [former Spurs midfielder] Jamie O'Hara on Sky saying broken promises are being made. Nonsense!

"Everybody in the real world knows that if an undertaking were given to a football player that they were prepared to engage in a discussion allowing him to be sold, then it would be documented properly, in the same way his contract was documented."

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe faced questions about Isak during his press conference ahead of Monday's clash with Liverpool. Although he confirmed the Swede won't feature in that match, he expressed his eagerness to bring the player back into the fold when he's ready.

"The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United," Howe said. "It will do that in every situation. [Isak's social media statement] was a sad moment. My preference is that these things do not happen publicly. They are better dealt with behind closed doors.

"But needs must (re Newcastle's statement in response). The club has spoken, and justifiably so in that moment. He's contracted to us. He's our player.

"My wish is that he would be playing on Monday night with us. He won't be, and that's regrettable at this moment. But 100 per cent, I want him back in a Newcastle shirt.

"It is disappointing I am having to mention this at length and taking us away from the football. The players have done well to blank it all out. But it is there in the background, and it is regrettable that we are in this situation."

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