Liverpool's £150m Alexander Isak warning as Arsenal and Gary Lineker came to same conclusion

Arsenal put themselves out of the race to sign Alexander Isak after his worrying injury record proved to be too off-putting. Newcastle United have already turned down a whopping £120million bid from Liverpool for the Swede.

They have so far insisted the £150m-rated striker is not for sale, despite him not travelling on their pre-season tour and training away from the team. He was last week spotted utilising the facilities of his former club Real Sociedad to try and maintain his fitness levels.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Merseysiders have taken a step back in their chase for the forward to see how things pan out between him and Newcastle. As the transfer saga unfolds, a cautionary tale has emerged in the form of Arsenal's reason for deciding not to pursue him – a point similar to one made by ex-Match of the Day host Gary Lineker last year.

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At one point, Isak was seen as one of Mikel Arteta's dream transfer targets for Arsenal. However, ESPN reports the north Londoners were deterred by Isak's recent injury record.

Since his £60m move from Sociedad in the summer of 2022, injuries have caused Isak to miss 39 matches for both club and country. This record, coupled with his hefty transfer fee, is believed to be the reason behind Arsenal ending their interest.

It's understood the Gunners considered his record-breaking Premier League price tag and his absence record, and they decided the risk was too great. At the start of last season, Lineker also pointed to Isak's injuries as a potential problem for any new club interested in him.

Last year, on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker highlighted the Scandinavian's injury record as a potential stumbling block for interested clubs. He stated: "17 goals in 24 Premier League appearances. I mean the only question mark against him is that he has missed a few games."

This summer, Arsenal turned their attention to Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who joined in a deal worth roughly £64m. They also snapped up winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea for £52m, while defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Brentford skipper Christian Norgaard and Villarreal defender Cristhian Mosquera have also come on board.

Meanwhile, the Echo say Liverpool won't be making a second offer anytime soon.

Howe has so far been adamant that Isak is not on the market. However, there's been plenty of activity at St James' Park in the transfer window.

They're currently vying with Manchester United for Benjamin Sesko, who's seen as a potential replacement for Isak. Howe's team made a bid just shy of £70m for the 22-year-old, but this was turned down.

Despite the speculation, Howe reiterated his and the club's desire for Isak to remain. In a recent press conference, he said: "I don't know what happens next. From our perspective, we still support Alex in every way and my wish is that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.

"I know where he is, really, through the media. From that perspective, it's difficult for me to go into any kind of detail. The situation is far from ideal and is quite complex."

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