Eddie Howe has revealed that Newcastle have a ‘decision to make’ on the future of want-away Alexander Isak – but says it must be for the best of the club.
Mail Sport revealed on Thursday that the striker has told the hierarchy he wants to leave this summer, with Liverpool preparing a British record offer.
Isak is not here with the squad in Singapore – he reported a thigh injury on Monday – and after Howe’s comments at the team hotel on Saturday afternoon, it would appear far from certain that he will still be at the club beyond this transfer window.
When asked if he wanted a quick resolution, the Newcastle boss said: ‘I wouldn’t put a timescale on it. I think with these situations it has to be right for the football club, and everything then is taken into context below that.
‘But the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has, and ultimately to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it’s up to us to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can. That’s what we’re trying to do, regardless of Alex’s situation.
‘But I think there’s a wider picture here. There’s a whole football club that has to make the decision. The ownership, together with the board of directors, especially with the money involved in modern day transfers. The manager of course has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board.’
Eddie Howe has insisted that he hopes Alexander Isak remains at Newcastle this summer
Mail Sport revealed this week that Isak has informed the club that he wants to leave this summer – with Liverpool interested in the 25-year-old
Isak is not currently with his Newcastle team-mates at their pre-season tour of Singapore after reporting a thigh injury
Howe added: ‘Of course there’s things going on behind the scenes (with Alex). He will be aware he’s in the news every day, and I’m sure that’s not easy for anyone in that situation. Conversations that happen between Alex and the club or Alex and myself will stay private for obvious reasons. We do share a really good relationship with him.
‘He’s been magnificent for us and he’s very popular in the dressing room. We’d love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. I certainly hope he stays. And I said (last weekend) I was confident that he’d stay. I don’t see anything that’s going to change that opinion of mine at the moment, but it’s football and who knows what the future may bring.
‘All I would say on the broader picture is whatever happens has to be right for Newcastle. We’re in a very strong position financially. We’re determined to be successful. We are ambitious. We’ve got a great season ahead of us. We need to add to the squad and continue to improve, and the journey can continue in an upward trajectory.’
Howe also revealed that no contract talks are taking place with Isak.
‘As far as I’m aware, I don’t think there are any contract talks taking place at the moment,’ he said. ‘That’ll be for a later date potentially. I think for now, with the situation as it is and the state of the window, in the sense that it’s hurtling towards the end of the window very quickly, from our perspective, there’s still so much that could happen.’
Of Isak’s injury situation, Howe said: ‘I’ve got no major update on that. He first mentioned his thigh just before the Celtic game. We assumed it would be a very minimal injury, nothing too serious. And then on the Monday after the Celtic game, he went in from training very early and didn’t feel right.
‘So he’s now in Newcastle getting that injury assessed and hopefully he’ll be back soon and playing in the black-and-white shirt. That’s what we all want to see.’
