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Alexander Isak of Newcastle United(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Michael Owen believes Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak moving to Liverpool "ticks a lot of boxes" and has dismissed criticism over the pursuit of the player.

Reports have also suggested he has no intention of signing a new contract at St James' Park, with three years left to run on his present deal.

The 25-year-old missed Newcastle's tour of the Far East due to a minor injury and was instead spotted training in Spain with a personal instructor, but has since returned to the Magpies' training ground amid a warning from boss Eddie Howe that he must "earn the right" to rejoin the first-team squad.



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Liverpool have no plans to make a second bid for Isak as things stand, but haven't ended their interest and are keeping a watchful eye on developments at Newcastle.

And while both the Reds and Isak have been lambasted by some for their behaviour, former Newcastle and Liverpool forward Owen believes their respective actions are merely par for the course.

"This is not a strange scenario," he said.

There are three different positions at play here, and we’ll see how it transpires."

Owen added: "Remember that Newcastle are obviously in the Champions League as well.

At the start of the season, Newcastle are offering exactly what Liverpool are in terms of the competitions they're in.

"However, we all, or at least the vast majority of people, would say that Liverpool have a better chance of winning the league, winning the Champions League, and winning other trophies than Newcastle.

"And if that's the case, and the contract will inevitably be a lot better if he makes a move to Liverpool, then it ticks a lot of boxes.

You can see why Liverpool would want him."

Liverpool are in the process of reconfiguring their forward options, with Hugo Ekitike having joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m while Luis Diaz has departed to Bayern Munich for £65.5m.

And speaking to AskGamblers on behalf of the ECHO, Owen believes Darwin Nunez could be the next to leave the club.

"Listen, Nunez is obviously a talented boy, that’s why he got signed by Liverpool, but is he going to be a starter?" said Owen.

From the player’s point of view, I couldn’t understand why he would want to leave the reigning champions, a team that’s going to have an excellent chance of winning the Champions League this season, for a team that isn’t as good as Liverpool at the moment, in my opinion.

"So, unless Liverpool wanted to cash in or needed to bring some money in to re-energise other positions, I don’t know.
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