Alexander Isak: Mystery Club Makes Bold Move for Liverpool's Top Transfer Target
Al Hilal have reportedly "investigated" the potential acquisition of Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak. This development coincides with mounting rumors regarding his future following reports that he trained separately from his Magpies teammates this week.
Isak secured second place behind only Mohamed Salah in the previous season's Premier League Golden Boot competition and attracted interest from Liverpool earlier this month as they sought to strengthen their already impressive attacking options.
The Reds are set to secure Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt in a transaction potentially worth over £82.3 million ($110.5 million) when all performance-related clauses are activated. This development likely eliminates Liverpool's pursuit of the Swedish striker, despite their continued financial flexibility, though it doesn't guarantee Isak will remain at Newcastle, where officials are keen to present him with fresh contract terms.
Al Hilal, who reached the quarterfinals in the recent FIFA Club World Cup, have reportedly "collected intelligence regarding the monetary requirements" for any potential Isak pursuit, according to ESPN.
Newly appointed head coach Simone Inzaghi would welcome Isak's recruitment, though discussions have remained internal at Al Hilal, with no "official communication" established with Newcastle, nor any sign of Isak's potential interest in such a move.
It is widely acknowledged in Saudi Arabia that convincing Isak to leave European football would prove "challenging".
Isak was absent from Newcastle's friendly loss to Celtic over the weekend, with manager Eddie Howe confirming he was sent away to shield him from media attention and public scrutiny.
On Tuesday, a supporter posted an image on social media seemingly showing Isak conducting solo training, separated from his teammates. The fan speculatively suggested "that's him departing for Liverpool", despite the Reds' advancement with Ekitiké negotiations.
"I believe it's challenging for me to provide complete certainty regarding any player," Howe stated on Saturday. "I would never position myself to do so because this is football and circumstances can change unexpectedly. However, Alex is content at Newcastle. He appreciates his fellow players, the coaching staff, and the team, and I've encountered no difficulties with him. The final thing Alex desires when not playing is to sit in the stands under such examination, so when he wasn't going to feature today, we collectively decided his absence was appropriate."
Howe additionally mentioned that Isak is "physically prepared but not match-ready" and that Newcastle "preferred not to take chances". This aligns with local reporting suggesting Isak underwent a thigh examination after experiencing discomfort. While the scan revealed no issues, he was reportedly assigned individual training as a precautionary measure, which is standard practice, similar to Lewis Hall's situation.
Newcastle are scheduled to travel to Singapore later this week, and should Isak miss this journey, it would provide a more definitive indication that his future remains uncertain.