Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has confirmed that Alexander Isak could leave the club this summer amid interest from Liverpool.
Isak this week asked to leave the club and was subsequently left out of Newcastle's tour of Singapore. A thigh strain was cited as the reason, with Isak also missing the 4-0 friendly defeat to Celtic last week, before news of his transfer request came to light.
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Liverpool have already approached Newcastle over signing Isak for around £120million, but were quickly told that the player is not for sale. Isak's push to leave is expected to soften Newcastle's stance, and Howe has confirmed that the situation continues to evolve.
"Of course there's things going on behind the scenes. He will be aware he's in the news every day, and I'm sure that's not easy for anyone in that situation," the Newcastle boss told reporters.
"Conversations that happen between Alex and the club or Alex and myself will stay private for obvious reasons. We do share a really good relationship with him.
"He's been magnificent for us since he's joined. He's very popular in the dressing room and we'd love him to continue his journey at Newcastle."
Howe also added that there are no contract talks taking place with Isak, who has three years left on his existing deal.
"As far as I'm aware, I don't think there are any contract talks taking place at the moment. That'll be for a later date potentially," Howe added.
"I think for now, with the situation as it is and the state of the window, in the sense that it's hurtling towards the end of the window very quickly from our perspective, there's still so much that could happen."
Howe confirmed that Isak is currently in Newcastle being assessed, adding at a press conference reported on the club website: "With his injury, I've got no major update on that. He first mentioned his thigh just before the Celtic game and we assumed it would a be very minimal injury, nothing too serious.
"Then on the Monday after the Celtic game, he went in from training very early, didn't feel right, so he's now in Newcastle getting that injury assessed.
"Hopefully he'll be back soon playing in the black and white shirt. That's what we all want to see."
Additional reporting by Press Association.
