Alexander Isak 'to miss glitzy awards ceremony' amid Liverpool transfer saga

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is set to stay away from the PFA awards gala despite being nominated for a top award, it has been claimed. The Sweden international is in the running for the player of the year gong, but has been tipped to stay away amid uncertainty over his future.

Isak is understood to have told Newcastle he has played his final game for the club, despite the Magpies knocking back a bid from Liverpool. A renewed bid from Liverpool could arrive before deadline day, but Eddie Howe's side are looking to add two forwards to their ranks before sanctioning an exit.

Isak is one of six nominees for the Players' Player of the Year award - along with Bruno Fernandes, Alexis Mac Allister, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice and Mohamed Salah. However, according to BBC Sport, he had yet to confirm his attendance at the awards ceremony barely 24 hours before its scheduled start-time on Tuesday night.

Last year, Phil Foden won the prestigious award at the ceremony in Manchester. The England international was fresh off helping Manchester City win the league with a career-high 19 goals, and collected his award in person.

The BBC's report indicates previous winners and nominees have left it late to confirm their attendance. However, the broadcaster also cites unnamed sources indicating Isak doesn't plan to head along.

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Isak's form last season left him in high demand early in the summer transfer window. He ended the campaign with 23 goals in the league and 27 in all competitions - both career-best figures - to help Newcastle qualify for the Champions League.

Liverpool's first bid, worth up to £120m including add-ons, was rejected by Newcastle. The striker remains determined to leave, though, and was left out of manager Howe's matchday squad for the Premier League opener away to Aston Villa.

"I hope it’s resolved quickly, because it’s news around us all the time," Howe told TNT Sports after the goalless draw at Villa Park. "Players have managed to shut that out and perform. We have to continue to do that. We have to cope without the narrative against us.”

Newcastle's next game just so happens to come against Liverpool at St James' Park. The reigning champions didn't enounter too many problems in front of goal in their opener, with new striker Hugo Ekitike on target in a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth.

Ekitike was one of the strikers on Newcastle's shortlist before moving to Anfield, but the club have other options as they look to prepare for the potential loss of Isak. Brentford's Yoane Wissa and Paris Saint-Germain's Goncalo Ramos are both being eyed, and both could move to Tyneside before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

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