Sweden have included Alexander Isak in their squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, even though the striker remains frozen out at Newcastle United while pushing for a move to Liverpool.
Coach Jon Dahl Tomasson named Isak in the team to face Slovenia and Kosovo on September 5 and 8, saying the 26-year-old still has an important role to play.
Isak has been training alone since missing Newcastle’s pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea. His absence comes as Liverpool continue to chase him, having already submitted a £110 million ($148m) bid. However, Saudi-owned Newcastle are holding out for around £150 million for the striker, who scored 23 Premier League goals last season and also helped the club lift the League Cup.
Tomasson admitted that the player’s situation is far from ideal but stressed his importance to Sweden’s World Cup campaign.
“The situation he is in is not perfect and he has not trained with his team,” Tomasson said.
“But he is a player who can be decisive and he wants to be part of our team. The World Cup is important for Alexander Isak.”
The Isak–Newcastle standoff has dominated this summer’s Premier League transfer headlines. The striker insists he was told he could leave and publicly voiced his frustration in a statement on August 20.
“When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself,” Isak said.
Newcastle quickly rejected his claim, responding:
“We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.”
Despite recent talks with Newcastle’s management, Isak is still pushing for a Liverpool move before the transfer window closes. Meanwhile, the Magpies have already seen two bids rejected by Wolves for Norwegian forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, who is seen as a possible replacement.
