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Alexander Isak has been linked with the Newcastle exit door(Image: Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Ex-Liverpool star Steve Nicol claims "there's definitely something" behind Newcastle's decision to leave Alexander Isak out of their pre-season friendly with Celtic at the weekend amid speculation regarding his exit.

The Swede didn't play for the Magpies after a week where the talk was of Liverpool making an approach for the striker, who has proven himself to be one of the best No.9s in Europe since moving to St James' Park from Real Sociedad three years ago.

He was a club-record signing for Newcastle, but they could demand double the £63million they paid to sign him if he did leave.



Eddie Howe is adamant his leading light is going nowhere despite several clubs being keen if he were to express a desire to leave.

Howe claimed that Isak was never set to appear in the game, which they lost 4-0, as Newcastle look to manage his workload after he struggled for fitness at the back end of the season, but ex-Red Nicol believes there's more to the decision that meets the eye.

He told ESPN : “It makes no sense that Alexander Isak doesn’t take part in this game.

If Isak plays against Celtic and gets injured, that’s £150m down the drain.

So, there’s definitely something.”

READ MORE:Managing Newcastle United as Benjamin Sesko call made and Eddie Howe performs £40m pivotREAD MORE:Alexander Isak's agent breaks silence on transfer saga as Liverpool told 'next step’ message

The Newcastle manager admitted he told Isak to head home following a week where he dominated the headlines.

The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him."

Isak's agent Gonzalo Gaitan recently added fuel to the fire and was quoted in Saudi Arabian outlet Arriyadiyah as saying they "may be close to finalising the next step for the player" - but refused to confirm what that step would be.

Eddie Howe insists there's nothing to be read into his decision to leave out the Swede(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)Article continues below

Newcastle, since they were taken over, have yet to lose one of their leading lights to a rival club.

Isak has three more years left on his current deal but is due to land a salary increase.
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