Isak did not travel with his team-mates on their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea, ostensibly because of a minor thigh injury, after Liverpool, who subsequently tabled a £110million bid for him, let it be known they remained interested in acquiring his services.

The Reds have already prised Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong away from Bayer Leverkusen, Milos Kerkez away from Bournemouth, and they also stepped on Newcastle ’s toes to complete the signing of striker Hugo Ekitiké—the Frenchman had emerged as a leading contender to play alongside Isak at Newcastle.