Isak selected by Sweden for WC qualifiers amid Newcastle standoff

Newcastle forward Alexander Isak has been called up by Sweden for World Cup qualifiers despite being sidelined by his club as he tries to force a move to Liverpool.

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Isak is part of Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson's squad for the games against Slovenia and Kosovo on Sept.5 and 8.

The 26-year-old has been banished from the Newcastle squad and has been training alone ever since he missed the club's tour to Singapore and South Korea.

Liverpool have bid £110 million ($148 million) for Isak so far but Saudi-owned Newcastle are reported to have slapped a £150 million price tag on the player who scored 23 Premier League goals last season and helped his club win the League Cup.

Tomasson said the 2026 World Cup, to be played in Mexico, Canada and the United States, was "important" to Isak.

"The situation he is in is not perfect and he has not trained with his team," the coach said.

"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," he added.

Isak's standoff with Newcastle has been the main Premier League transfer saga of the summer as the player insists he was told by the club he could leave.