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Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes has admitted Alexander Isak is going through "rough things" amid transfer speculation

Newcastle stars Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes have broken their silence on transfer speculation surrounding Alexander Isak, admitting the striker is going through "rough things" after telling the club he wants to leave this summer.

Isak is one of the most coveted players in the transfer window after a sensational season for the Magpies last season as he netted 27 goals and helped the team win the Carabao Cup.

He has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool, who would likely have to smash the British transfer record once again after already doing so to bring Florian Wirtz to Anfield for £116.5million last month.

Isak was due to travel with Newcastle to Singapore for their pre-season tour but has been left at home as he nurses a thigh injury.

Boss Eddie Howe previously excluded him from a friendly defeat to Celtic last week, concerned that speculation might have affected his mindset.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in Singapore, Burn was coy on Isak's situation and said there was little the squad could do about it - instead turning his attentions to new signing Anthony Elanga.

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He said : "Listen, everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

Alex hasn’t trained with a thigh issue that's been ongoing since he’s been back that first few days."

Meanwhile, club captain Guimaraes admitted the player was going through "some rough things" but insisted he hoped the player would return for the club ahead of the new Premier League season.

Dan Burn claimed the Isak situation was out of the team's control after he failed to travel with them for pre-season

"I’m really close to him (Isak).

I hope he’s going to be fit when we come back to Newcastle to prepare for the new season.

"They told us he was there in Newcastle because of his injury.

Of course he’s a top player for us and he’s going to be a miss on this trip.

We need him ready as soon as possible."

Liverpool would likely have to offer as much as £150m if they wanted to sign Isak and it would cap off a remarkable summer of spending for the Reds, having already spent £265m on Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike.

Eddie Howe is adamant that Isak is not for sale(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Ekitike has just arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt for around £79m and was set to be the leading man up front for the Reds and adding Isak would give the Reds some serious firepower as they look to retain their Premier League title.

But Newcastle boss Howe has insisted he expects Isak to stay at St James' Park for the new season, saying he was "confident" he would not leave.

"I'm confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window," he said.
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