Alexander Isak has been linked with Liverpool in recent weeks, and the Premier League champions are ready to pay a club-record fee for him.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has now opened up on the long-term future of Alexander Isak amid interest from Liverpool. The 25-year-old is one of the best strikers in the world, and he could be an exceptional acquisition for Liverpool.

It is no surprise that the Reds are keen on him. The Swedish international has all the tools to develop into a world-class player. They need someone reliable to replace Darwin Nunez, and Isak certainly fits the profile. However, Eddie Howe remains confident that the player will stay at the club next season.

The Swede was recently left out of the squad for the pre-season friendly against Celtic, and that certainly fueled speculations surrounding his future. It shows that Alexander Isak may be distracted, and Newcastle United might have to consider his long-term future at the club. If a serious offer comes in over the next few weeks, it would not be a surprise if the player decides to force a move.

The Newcastle manager said of the striker’s absence via , “It was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him. But I’m confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window.”

“It’s difficult for me to give 100% clarity on any player. Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I’m confident he’ll be here at the start of the season. Yes, I’ve had discussions with him but that’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realise there’ll be noise around him.”

Isak could be tempted to move on

The opportunity to join Liverpool will be quite exciting for Alexander Isak. The Merseyside outfit are among the biggest clubs in the world, and they could provide him with the platform to fight for trophies regularly.

Isak won the EFL Cup with Newcastle last season, and they have secured UEFA Champions League qualification for the upcoming campaign as well. However, they are not at the level required to win the Champions League or the Premier League. Liverpool will be able to provide him with that opportunity. It will be interesting to see if the Reds decide to test Newcastle’s resolve with a lucrative proposal in the coming days.