Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has labelled the ongoing transfer saga with wantaway striker Alexander Isak a “lose-lose situation,” confirming he has not spoken to the player in a week as the forward continues to push for a move to Liverpool.
The 25-year-old is training separately from the first team after the club rejected a £110 million bid from Liverpool earlier this month. The standoff escalated this week when Isak released a public statement accusing Newcastle of breaking promises made to him regarding a potential transfer, a claim the club has officially denied.
Isak will not feature in Monday’s Premier League match against Liverpool, the very club he wishes to join, and Howe admitted the situation is “far from ideal.”
“I haven’t seen him this week,” Howe said in a press conference on Friday. “It’s a difficult situation from both sides… as he’s training later on and detached from the group. We will catch up at some stage and hopefully speak soon.”
The Swedish international’s absence compounds a frustrating transfer window for Newcastle, who have failed in bids to sign several other forwards, including a recently rejected £40 million offer for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
Despite the public nature of the dispute and critical chants from some supporters, Howe insisted he would welcome Isak back into the squad if a move does not materialise before the September 1 transfer deadline.
“Yes, of course. He’s contracted to us, he’s our player,” Howe stated. “My wish is that he would be playing on Monday night with us. But he won’t be and that’s regrettable.”
Howe also expressed confidence that the dressing room would support the striker’s reintegration.
“I have no doubt about how the players will feel. They will feel the same way I do,” he added. “Alex is a fantastic player, he’s a good person, a good character and a good lad. If Alex wanted to come back and play for us, the players would welcome him.”
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