Alexander Isak has been told by the Newcastle United board he is not for sale this summer and will not be allowed to join Liverpool in a show of defiance from the club’s Saudi owners.

Newcastle’s steadfast position on the matter has caused acrimony and tension, with Isak refusing to accept the decision with good grace. He has subsequently been ordered by manager Eddie Howe to train away from the group.

Until Isak is willing to get his head around the fact that he will be denied a move in this transfer window, he will not play for the club.

It is a high-risk approach from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns Newcastle, but its position , as revealed by Telegraph Sport last month, has always been the same.

Liverpool were made aware of Newcastle’s refusal to consider a

See Full Page