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Alexander Isak's arrival at Borussia Dortmund didn't go down well with Thomas Tuchel(Image: TF-Images/Getty Images)

Alexander Isak's tense standoff with Newcastle United is unwanted but not unknown for the Liverpool transfer target.

Tuchel made it abundantly clear Isak wasn't his choice by admitting in a press conference that he'd never heard of the youngster, forcing chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke to issue an apology to the player.

Article continues belowIsak turned down the chance to sign for Real Madrid(Image: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

The now-England boss was furious that he hadn't been involved in discussions about the deal.



With Isak finding the net regularly for Sociedad, Dortmund mulled over bringing him back to Signal Iduna Park as a long-term successor to Erling Haaland.

Nevertheless, with Isak determined to remain in Spain, Sociedad struck a £5m agreement with Dortmund to scrap the clause in 2021.

Isak made his feelings clear, saying: "I'm fully aware that there is a clause.

"All I can say is that Dortmund is in my past and not in my future.

I'm only focusing on Real Sociedad at the moment."

Isak made it clear he didn't want to return to Dortmund(Image: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

As Isak's reputation soared, he began catching the eye of Premier League sides, with Arsenal among those keen on him.

The Gunners made an attempt to secure his signature in early 2022 but were unable to reach a deal.

Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe responded to the speculation surrounding Isak by declaring the club was "well protected" thanks to his release clause, believed to be around £75m.

Perennial nearly-men Arsenal have been hunting for a world-class striker ever since, finally landing one this summer with Viktor Gyokeres' arrival from Sporting CP.

Isak's future is up in the air ahead of the new season(Image: Getty Images)

Newcastle didn't need to fork out £75m for Isak's services, though there were fraught talks as they battled to complete the transfer, ultimately stumping up a club-record £63m for the forward.

Just before the switch materialised, Sociedad were still anticipating Isak would remain at the club, with president Jokin Aperribay revealing to Spanish media: "We did not expect Isak to leave."

Nevertheless, once Isak's agents made Sociedad aware of their client's ambition to join Newcastle, they were left with little choice.
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