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Alexander Isak's future hangs in the balance(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Liverpool and Newcastle United continue to keep their cards close to their chests in the ever-intensifying Alexander Isak transfer poker match.

That stands even if he has to remain sidelined indefinitely, training away from Eddie Howe's squad.

In contention with this is the fact Liverpool will not make a second bid unless cracks begin to appear in their rivals' hardline stance.



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That is the true definition of a stalemate and in any such case, top Premier League clubs are not used to backing down in order to get what they desire.

It might actually be in this particular instance that folding is what keeps this transfer alive.

With 22 days to go in the summer transfer window and everything they are faced with, this transfer can still be considered 'on' and Newcastle's reinforced stance could merely be performative.

They have come too far to simply back down to Isak's demands and open the door to Liverpool themselves but there is no chance they don't sell an unhappy player if enough money is put on the line.

Let Harry Kane stand out as the most recent example of a Premier League striker wanting to explore opportunities after devoting 19 years of his life to Tottenham Hotspur, leaving them with little else to do but accept the situation.

And that leaves the third option that cannot be ignored.

The only other way this saga draws to a close is if Isak makes the major u-turn of apologising to his employers, coaches and teammates so that he can stay with his current club.

Our colleagues at The Chronicle suggest there is little chance of that happening with Newcastle insiders fearing Isak may have kicked a ball in club colours for the final time.

"I don't see the current situation changing before Aston Villa," Howe warned ahead of the Premier League season kicking off next weekend.

Isak's head is considered completely turned towards the Premier League champions, therefore it falls to one of the two clubs to be the catalyst in kickstarting meaningful negotiations.

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