That ‘could be music to the ears of Liverpool fans’ who managed to avoid those silence-breaking quotes which were made 16 days ago and have since been proven largely redundant because they are still not “close to finalising the next step for the player” at all. But it doesn’t feel likely.

Alexander Isak is set for showdown talks Eddie Howe this week after returning to the Newcastle training ground. Isak was at the Newcastle training ground on Monday after returning from Spain, as he waits on a second bid for Liverpool after their £110million offer was rejected.