Alexander Isak has been named in Sweden’s squad for their World Cup qualifiers despite being locked in a transfer standoff with Newcastle United.
The 26-year-old striker was included by manger Jon Dahl Tomasson for matches against Slovenia and Kosovo on September 5 and 8 respectively.
Isak has been training alone after being frozen out of the Magpies squad. He missed the club’s pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea, which further deepened tensions.
Liverpool have already made a £110 million ($148m) offer for the forward. However, Newcastle, now backed by Saudi ownership, are holding firm with a £150m valuation.
Last season, the Swedish was in lethal form. He scored 23 Premier League goals and played a key role in helping Eddie Howe’s team lift the League Cup.
Tomasson admitted the striker’s current situation is far from ideal but emphasized Isak’s importance to Sweden’s World Cup hopes.
“The situation he is in is not perfect and he has not trained with his team,” Tomasson remarked.
“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.”
This ongoing standoff has become the headline transfer saga of the Premier League summer.
The 25-year-old insists Howe’s side had previously told him he would be allowed to leave, and his future remains uncertain as the qualifiers approach.
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