Eddie Howe has described Alexander Isak’s statement accusing Newcastle of breaking promises over his desired transfer to Liverpool as a “sad moment”.
Isak claimed Newcastle have reneged on their vow to allow the striker to leave St James’ Park this summer, after the club rejected a £110m offer from Liverpool. Newcastle responded with a counter-statement suggesting Isak would be staying this season and underlining that they “do not foresee those conditions [of a sale] being met]” before the transfer deadline on 1 September.
Howe insists he still wants Isak to be part of the squad, despite the Swedish international staying clear of training in protest amid a deepening rift between player and club. The manager also confirmed that Isak will not be part of the group that faces Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday evening.
“It was a sad moment,” Howe said, when asked for his reaction to Isak’s statement. “My preference is these things do not happen publicly. They are better dealt with behind closed doors. But needs must: the club has spoken, and justifiably so in that moment … The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United. It will do that in every situation.
“He’s contracted to us. He’s our player. My wish is that he would be playing on Monday. He won’t be, and that’s regrettable. But 100 per cent I want him back in a Newcastle shirt.”
Howe is relieved that the saga will be soon be over, with the transfer window coming to a close next Monday. “It looks like it is coming to an end, or it will come to an end pretty quickly.”
more to follow…
