Dan Burn: Isak Leaving Hurts Newcastle

International media reported on Friday that Newcastle United defender Dan Burn remarked that losing a talent like Alexander Isak would “upset” the team.

Reports say that Isak is very close to joining Liverpool, and if the move happens, the Reds are the most likely team to sign him. Newcastle has repeatedly said they don’t want to let the player go. He was left out of Eddie Howe’s 30-man squad for the team’s pre-season tour of Asia because of a “minor thigh injury,” but reports say that a deal worth £150 million ($203m) could make the club change its mind.

Isak also didn’t play in Newcastle’s 4-0 loss to Celtic on Saturday.

Burn said that Isak’s departure would have an effect on the players when he arrived for the club’s preseason tour. He hopes that the Sweden international will stay.

Dan Burn remarked, “If we lost any player, it would upset our close-knit group that has been together for two or three years now.”

“Any player that departs doesn’t help, but from our point of view, we’re just going to handle what we can.

“We can’t wait to have Alex back when he’s better. Alex needs to answer this question. He’s a really important guy for us, but we also have a lot of good players on the team. I think it was a tremendous move to bring in Anthony [El Humans] as well.

Alexander Isak scored 27 goals in 42 games last season, which helped Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and win the Carabao Cup.

Newcastle will play Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday, July 27. After that, they will go to South Korea to play a K-League All-Star squad on July 30 and Tottenham on August 3.