There is an army of advisers and intermediaries for the governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Isak has been training away from his teammates (Photo: Getty)
But ultimately he is his own man and that deliberate decision to set those lofty goals should perhaps inform some of the machinations of arguably the most important summer yet under PIF ownership.
Reports have detailed shock, hurt and anger at the Isak soap opera, but for PIF and those right at the top, it is about business.
The Premier League scrambled to rewrite its rulebook when PIF took over, rival ownership groups assuming it would look to disrupt as it did with LIV Golf.
But PIF sources say working within those rules is part of what it signed up for.
Eddie Howe hopes to reintegrate him into the squad (Photo: Getty)It is an investment fund, not an outlier for a radical rewriting of football’s rules.
The same is true of the notion that the Saudi Pro League (SPL) can be leveraged to help the club or that Ivan Toney can be manoeuvred out of Al-Ahli to help Newcastle’s cause as they search for a striker.
But secondly, the part of the fund that runs its Saudi clubs is autonomous from the section that deals with Newcastle.
Isak is chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan’s favourite player (Photo: Getty)
PIF’s attitude on Isak is similarly black and white.
That there are other conditions – signing a proper like-for-like replacement – means it was never going to be a straightforward deal this summer, as Isak and his agents have known all along.
Newcastle’s PSR situation requires a big sale, and fairly soon. If Isak stays now, someone will go in the future.
But they have to do it in their own time and when they know it will make them better.
They have to have a proper succession plan in place, which they have attempted and failed to construct with rejections from Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko.
Liverpool beat Newcastle to land Hugo Ekitike on a six-year deal (Photo: Getty)Isak should be playing on Monday and his absence leaves Newcastle much weaker.
While Liverpool’s version of events differs from some of those at Newcastle, there is an undercurrent of resentment at the way the Isak situation has played out over the summer and a suspicion at St James’ Park that he has been deliberately unsettled in an attempt to broker a deal below their sky high valuation of the striker.
Liverpool, though, argue that it is not true that their interest in Ekitike was only piqued by Newcastle accelerating their own move for the France striker, a long-term Eddie Howe target viewed as perfect for his system and the natural heir to Isak.
Arne Slot is understood to have been a huge fan and their late move was “unconnected” to their interest in Isak.
square FOOTBALL Newcastle narrow striker search to two targets as PIF's stance on Isak revealed
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Liverpool’s stance after the initial bid was rejected was that they would not bid again due to the strength of Newcastle’s rebuttal.
Given the dwindling amount of time left in the transfer window, the odds are now stacked against any new offer being successful.
But after that, there will be an attempt to pick up the pieces and mend a broken relationship.
St James’ Park is always special under the lights when an elite team visits. It promises to be white hot.
“The Isak saga has touched every single Newcastle fan this summer. Everyone you have spoken to, whether it’s at work, your home life, social media, everyone has been hurt by this story and the behaviour of the player. So it will have a galvanising effect.
The most sensible path to take from September would be for an international break rapprochement between Isak and Newcastle.
Then Newcastle can source an adequate replacement – the striker market will move again next year – knowing what the market conditions will be, while also strengthening in other positions.
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But every week Isak doesn’t play the situation gets tougher to unravel.
It is a subtle message to the striker sitting in the stands.
“Most sensible football fans don’t have an issue with players having ambition or the best financial settlement they can get.
“But to down tools and refuse to play, it’s very difficult to defend or understand that kind of behaviour.”
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