Eddie Howe Accepts Alexander Isak’s Future At Newcastle Is Out Of His Control

Eddie Howe has admitted he will not person nan last opportunity complete striker Alexander Isak’s early astatine Newcastle. The 25-year-old Sweden world is training by himself aft taking nary portion successful nan club’s Sela Cup fixtures against Espanyol and Atlético Madrid, having missed nan travel to Singapore and South Korea amid Liverpool’s liking successful him.

Newcastle person rejected a £110m connection for Isak, who has 3 years remaining connected his contract, from nan Anfield nine retired of hand, but his business remains shrouded successful uncertainty arsenic nan Premier League opener astatine Aston Villa approaches. Asked aft Saturday’s 2-0 conclusion by Atlético astatine St James’ Park if he whitethorn person to fto nan subordinate go, Howe said: “That’s a determination that I won’t make, that will beryllium for different group to make.

“For me, I’m conscionable trying to negociate nan business and negociate nan team, astir importantly negociate nan group of players that I’m moving pinch time to day, that I emotion coaching and helping. We’re focusing connected Aston Villa. Everything else, to a degree, from my position is not successful my control, truthful it’s not my focus.”

Asked further astir a study that Isak had been told he will not beryllium sold this summer, Howe added: “That’s not thing I’m alert of. Of course, there’s discussions going connected each nan clip that I’m not statement to. I person nary knowledge of that.”

Newcastle, who signed Isak from Real Sociedad for £63m during nan summertime of 2022, person placed a £150m value tag connected him successful an effort to ward disconnected imaginable suitors, but look a awesome task to seduce nan subordinate to proceed his profession astatine St James’ Park. Asked if he believed he could talk his prima guardant round, nan caput coach, Howe, said: “If it was that easy, I’d person done it yesterday.”

Eddie Howe has been disappointment successful nan transportation marketplace this summer. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

The Isak saga has added greater urgency to Newcastle’s transportation model mission, which has encountered repeated setbacks successful caller weeks pinch Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitiké, James Trafford and João Pedro having slipped done their fingers.

They were already looking to enlistee different striker to switch nan departed Callum Wilson, and Howe will dream Anthony Gordon does not adhd to his problems aft limping disconnected during Saturday’s friendly.

The 47-year-old said: “It’s an ankle problem. We initially possibly thought it was a musculus problem, but nan bully news is I deliberation it was conscionable a twist, truthful nan first emotion is he should beryllium OK.”

In amended news for Howe, Newcastle are understood to beryllium closing successful connected a woody for Milan’s Germany world defender Malick Thiaw, though he said: “I’ve been preparing these 2 games nan past 2 days, truthful I’m not updated connected thing that’s happened.” The move would beryllium a breakthrough for Howe successful his hunt for a defender, having missed retired connected Dean Huijsen earlier successful nan transportation window, when he moved to Real Madrid from Bournemouth.

Another Newcastle target, Yoane Wissa, did not characteristic again for Brentford successful their training crushed friends against Borussia Mönchengladbach connected Saturday pursuing Friday night’s 2-2 tie astatine nan Gtech Community Stadium against nan Bundesliga club.