Eddie Howe Confirms Doubts About Isak’s Participation in the Start of the Season
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has acknowledged that striker Alexander Isak is unlikely to feature in the Premier League season opener against Aston Villa.
The 25-year-old Swedish international was not present in the 2-2 draw against Espanyol in the Sela Cup on Friday night and will also not play against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Howe revealed that conversations with Isak, who was the subject of a rejected offer of £110 million from Liverpool, are ongoing, but he does not expect any resolution before the start of the season.
Slot: Liverpool remains active in the transfer market amid Isak talks
Sources: Liverpool rejects offer for Isak
Sources: Man Utd agrees €85 million deal for Sesko
I would like Alex to be playing today, I would like him to train tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us, let that be absolutely clear. There is no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome.
Eddie Howe
Isak has been training separately from the main group since his return to Tyneside, after not participating in the club’s pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea.
Isak’s indication that he wants to explore his options this summer, along with Liverpool’s offer (Newcastle values him at around £150 million), have created a tense situation.Isak’s lack of happiness has left the club with an important decision: cash in now and make a significant profit on a player who cost them £63 million three summers ago, or try to persuade him that his future is still at Tyneside and that he should sign a new contract to replace his current deal, which has three years remaining.
When asked if the club could simply refuse to sell their star striker, Howe said: “I don’t think it’s that simple, otherwise we would have done it a long time ago. I don’t think we’re in a position to do that currently. I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t think it’s right. I think I’ve said enough.”
The decision of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko to opt for Manchester United instead of Newcastle represented a new blow, and although they are working on other targets, their need increases day by day.
The club’s failure to sign potential players to date has led to suggestions that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which owns an 85 percent stake, is not as committed as before.
However, Howe, who admitted that Isak’s situation has destabilized a previously united team, was unequivocal in his denial.
He said: “The owners are very committed, as much as they have always been. This has been a challenging period where there will be many different opinions on different topics, but I can assure everyone associated with Newcastle that the owners are very much behind the project and fighting every day for the club.”
