Brace yourselves lads: Alexander Isak has not travelled to Singapore with the Newcastle United squad
Let the meltdown commence: Newcastle United today announced their 29-man squad for their trip to Asia, which sees them take on Arsenal in Singapore on Saturday.
After having been sent home from Scotland by Eddie Howe, then seen training alone, Alexander Isak's name is conspicuously absent from the named squad.
Given all the transfer talk around Isak, this is hardly good news for Newcastle fans.
The official reason is that Isak has discomfort in his thigh, but given that it has been reported that scans came back clear, there are red flags, red flashing lights and blaring sirens all over this one.
Positivity is waning. We're succumbing to the dark side
It's getting harder and harder to believe the noises coming out of the club, and easier to believe the theory that Isak is being disruptive. Either pushing for a move or throwing his weight around to get a new contract. Either way, Eddie Howe isn't going to stand for that.
The mystery injury is also a massive red flag. If the scans say he's okay, is he faking it so he doesn't have to play for us?
It's starting to feel like we might just be better off cashing in. Although the idea of selling him to a Premier League rival, especially one that has done nothing but try to upset the apple cart all summer, does make me feel a bit sick.
Of course ... we could be wrong
Newcastle have clearly wanted to keep hold of Isak, there's no question about that, but it looks as though, for the sake of squad morale, he may have to go. However, we can't even entertain that idea until we have a replacement on board ... and Yoane Wissa is not it. Wissa is a replacement for Callum Wilson.
Bringing in someone like Randal Kolo Muani or Benjamin Sesko would be ideal, particularly the latter. But again, we need that in place before we get the Alexander Isak money in to avoid huge price hikes.
Of course, we could be completely wrong and Isak's injury is genuine and he's stayed behind to work on it with a view to flying out to South Korea to meet up with the squad there, and he will sign a new deal with a big beaming smile and score 30 goals next season.
