Liverpool has played the Alexander Isak situation about right.

It would have been wrong not to ask the question of Newcastle — but having received a firm answer, it has not wasted its summer on a very remote possibility.

There is little doubt that Isak is the best around in the number nine role at present.



The main plausible answer is FFP/PSR pressures, but the return to Europe's top table effectively extinguished any of those worries.

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Of course, Newcastle could have banished all risk of those fears for years to come with a bumper Isak sale, but it would also have had to sacrifice its near-term sporting ambitions.

But for now, selling Isak goes against all of the ambitions of the Saudi-backed project at St James' Park.

The fact that both sides are owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is not expected to pose any issues.

From an optics perspective, the shared ownership might even make this one of the few destinations for Isak that may be palatable to the Newcastle hierarchy

The safest money is on Isak remaining at St James' Park for another season.

But even with Liverpool shifting to Ekitike, there are still some nervy weeks ahead for Newcastle fans
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