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Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak of Newcastle United(Image: Getty Images)

Anthony Gordon has played an unintended role in the Alexander Isak transfer saga, with the Liverpool target insistent that he won't represent Newcastle United again.

Isak, 25, did not travel with the rest of his Newcastle teammates to Asia for a pre-season tour and has informed the club of his desire to leave and explore a move to the Reds this summer.

He spent a short period of time working at former club, Real Sociedad, while the Magpies were out in Singapore and South Korea, but he has since returned to Newcastle and is training alone.



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The Swede has no intention to be reintegrated into the squad, as he is said to be furious over a broken contract promise that led him to decide that last season would be his final one at St James' Park.

Former Newcastle director and minority co-owner Amanda Staveley had promised Isak that he and the club would sit down to discuss a new deal, which would have been just rewards for his performances.

Ex-Tottenham and Monaco chief Mitchell cited the club's need to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), but in October last year Anthony Gordon signed a new long-term contract.

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Gordon, 24, who signed for Newcastle from Everton for £45million in January 2023, put pen to paper on a lucrative five-year deal.

The England international had been linked with a move to Liverpool while the Magpies were in a little bit of PSR bother last summer, but he decided to remain in the North East.

Isak, meanwhile, has three years to run on his current deal at Newcastle and extending his stay was not seen as a matter of urgency.

But it was then that he made it evident 2024/25 would be his final season at Newcastle, according to The Athletic.

Some at the club deny that this was the message.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund front man is said to have told Eddie Howe, two weeks before the end of last season, of his desire to leave and he then doubled down on that call after their final day defeat to Everton.

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Newcastle face Aston Villa in their Premier League curtain-raiser on Saturday and Howe has made it clear that he cannot pick Isak, as things stand, for that fixture.

"For me, I'm just trying to manage the situation and manage the team, most importantly manage the group of players that I'm working with day to day, that I love coaching and helping," Howe said.

Everything else, to a degree, from my perspective is not in my control, so it’s not my focus."

When asked about whether he believed he could convince Isak to stay, Howe said: "If it was that easy, I'd have done it yesterday."


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