Liverpool now expected to return for Alexander Isak but where does it leave Newcastle?

The 22-year-old seemed the obvious choice for Newcastle, who have tabled a £70 million bid for the striker which is believed to match Leipzig's demands according to The Athletic.

However, Manchester United have also expressed their interest in a deal, and have confirmed to the Bundesliga side they would match any bid if Šeško should choose to join them instead of Newcastle this summer.

It means the transfer merry-go-round could be entirely decided on what Šeško chooses: St. James' Park or Old Trafford.

And while Manchester United endured a woeful campaign last season and do not offer any European football, the lure of the club remains. Newcastle have already rivalled Ruben Amorim's side with both teams expressing interest in Bryan Mbeumo's signature this summer, but the Cameroonian chose the Red Devils.

Šeško has been in high demand in the last six months, with Arsenal heavily scouting the 22-year-old before deciding to go with the more finished article in Viktor Gyökeres, who joined on an initial £55million deal.

The snub from Mikel Arteta's side opened the door to other suitors, with Newcastle looking to act fast after missing out on previous targets such as Bryan Mbeumo and Hugo Ekitike.

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The need became urgent too when Liverpool came knocking for Isak. The Swedish striker has since refused to travel with the squad on their pre-season tour of Asia in an attempt to force a move through to Anfield.

Newcastle's stance has always been clear on their star man: he is not for sale. It would take a mammoth bid in the region of £150million for the Magpies to allow Isak to go.

The demands aren't unfair, either, with Isak catapulting himself to being one of the most in-demand forwards in world football after consecutive 20-league goal hauls.

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Newcastle have two outcomes from the saga: Isak stays, but most likely under the pretences that he will leave next season, or they bring in Šeško and enter a new dawn in the No9 position.

Both outcomes have their risks. The toll that the transfer saga will have taken on Isak, his teammates and the fans could be irreparable after the Swede took matters into his own hands to force a move away.

Alternatively, Šeško poses a risk. An exciting, explosive and enigmatic striker that will add an heir of unpredictability to Howe's new-look forward line, after the addition of Anthony Elanga earlier in the window.

However, the young Slovenian striker scored 13 Bundesliga goals this term, a sharp decline from Isak's 23 in the Premier League, and struggled for consistency in a disappointing Leipzig side.

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Šeško is a raw product that can be moulded, but Isak is the polished article. There will undoubtedly be a drop-off in output for Howe.

However, keeping Isak does not guarantee another season of goals. The striker's world-class talent is not in doubt, but he may have lost the trust of his teammates and his manager.

All in all, it's hard to see anyone but Newcastle coming out of this saga as the biggest loser, which has been the story of their transfer window.

Giving up in their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike should have avoided this mess with Isak after Liverpool gave the Magpies a strong ultimatum: it's Ekitike or Isak.

Newcastle chose Isak, Liverpool chose both. Hopefully for Howe, Šeško can choose Tyneside.