Howe Accepts Isak Saga At Newcastle Leaves Club In ‘lose-lose’ Situation

Eddie Howe has acknowledged that Alexander Isak’s standoff pinch Newcastle has near nan nine successful a “lose-lose situation” and described it is simply a “sad moment”.

Isak will again not beryllium progressive astatine St James’ Park connected Monday nighttime erstwhile Newcastle look Liverpool, nan broadside nan Sweden striker has been agitating to subordinate each summer. Howe said he has not spoken to Isak this week, meaning nan brace person had nary interaction since nan events of Tuesday night, erstwhile a subordinate presently training unsocial posted an Instagram connection successful which he said of “broken promises”, a “loss of trust” and a narration that “could not continue.”

“I don’t deliberation we tin travel retired of this winning successful immoderate situation,” said Howe, good alert that, travel 2 September, Isak will either stay successful nan northbound eastbound against his will aliases will person departed amid sizeable acrimony. “I deliberation it’s a lose-lose situation, to a degree, for us.”

Newcastle responded to Isak’s Instagram station pinch a connection of their own, emphasising an volition to support personification pinch 3 years remaining connected his statement but, possibly, leaving nan doorway to a imaginable woody pinch Liverpool somewhat ajar. Nonetheless, for Isak to extremity up astatine Anfield successful this transportation window, Howe would request to motion 2 caller strikers and Newcastle to beryllium paid a interest location betwixt their £150m asking interest and nan £110m bid Liverpool person already seen rejected.

“It’s a sad moment,” reflected Howe arsenic he anxiously awaiting developments successful Newcastle’s pursuit of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Wolves’s Jørgen Strand Larsen. “These things being made nationalist doesn’t bespeak good connected us, aliases Alex. It’s been an unfortunate fewer months that looks for illustration it will travel to an extremity beautiful quickly.” Not that Newcastle’s head seems remotely clear connected how, precisely, nan saga will beryllium resolved. “I’m not a luck teller,” he added. “I’ve sewage nary measurement of knowing what will hap successful nan adjacent fewer days. But he’s contracted to us, he’s our player.”

Eddie Howe has faced a difficult summertime pinch nan Alexander Isak saga overshadowing nan team’s preparation. Photograph: Allstar Picture Library Ltd/Neal Simpson/Apl/Sportsphoto

Howe weighed his words cautiously arsenic he struck a decidedly conciliatory tone. “If Alex decided to travel backmost and play for america nan players would invited him back,” he said. “Alex is an outstanding subordinate and a very, very bully person, a bully character, a bully lad. He wants to win successful his career.

“Things tin change. A subordinate mightiness not beryllium successful a awesome spot 1 days and a fewer days later they are location and fresh to play. That’s nan beauty of quality beings, we tin each alteration our feelings and emotions rather quickly.”

Not that Howe will invited Isak backmost connected immoderate terms. “I 100% want him successful a Newcastle shirt. But if Alex is to play for Newcastle again, he has to beryllium wholly committed.”

With some Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian owners and Isak hopeless to debar losing face, nan head finds himself stepping a negotiated tightrope. “This has been an unfortunate business but location are ever 2 sides to each story,” he said, pointedly. “There’s much than moreover I will know, because location are conversations that person taken spot acold distant from maine and my knowledge of them.”

Howe did concede he had held meetings pinch Isak successful past outpouring but, possibly tellingly, he would not beryllium drawn arsenic to whether he knew past that nan 25-year-old was anxious to move on. “Me and Alex had conversations towards nan extremity of past season. I americium not going to contradict that,” Howe said. “But individual conversations are champion disconnected remaining private.”

The 47-year-old besides claimed he personally was not astatine loggerheads pinch Isak. “There are nary issues betwixt us,” Howe insisted. “I haven’t seen him this week but, erstwhile I do spot him, we speak arsenic normal. It’s difficult connected some sides. It’s acold from ideal. But we’re fine.”

Isak’s seemingly shattered narration pinch Newcastle’s supporters could beryllium harder to mend. “I judge it tin beryllium fixed,” countered Howe. “I judge supporters ever respond to really a subordinate plays and what he gives to nan team.”