Eddie Howe breaks his silence on Alexander Isak’s future
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has addressed growing speculation surrounding Alexander Isak’s future, expressing firm confidence that the Swedish striker will remain at the club this summer.
Despite persistent reports linking Isak with a record-breaking move to Liverpool, Howe remains calm and resolute, insisting he expects the forward to continue his career on Tyneside.
Liverpool, now Premier League champions and fresh from a summer of heavy spending, are reportedly prepared to surpass the British transfer record in their pursuit of Isak.
After already investing £116 million in Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, the Reds have set their sights on the Newcastle star and are believed to be willing to go beyond £125 million should they sense any willingness from the Magpies to negotiate.
Isak’s omission from Newcastle’s squad during their recent 4-0 pre-season defeat to Celtic only added fuel to the fire, but Howe explained the decision was purely his own, made in light of the swirling transfer rumors.
According to the Newcastle boss, Isak did travel with the team to Glasgow but was later sent home to shield him from the distracting speculation.
Howe emphasized that watching from the stands under such intense media scrutiny would not have been fair to the player.
In his own words, Howe stated, “It was my call. I sent him back because of the noise around him. He didn’t need to sit in the stands with all that going on. I’m confident he’ll be here with us when the window shuts.”
Liverpool’s pursuit of a top-tier forward has been no secret since they lifted their 20th league title. While Isak fits the profile of the elite striker Arne Slot desires to lead his attack, the Merseyside club is known for maintaining multiple targets in any transfer scenario.
Reports now suggest that Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt has emerged as a serious alternative, with the player reportedly open to joining the Anfield outfit.
Newcastle themselves had a £70 million bid rejected for Ekitike earlier this summer, falling short of the forward’s £86 million release clause.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s summer activity shows no signs of slowing. In addition to Wirtz, they’ve also brought in Jeremie Frimpong, another star from Leverkusen, and left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.
These additions point to a comprehensive squad overhaul under new management. However, departures are also on the agenda, with both Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez attracting significant interest from Bayern Munich and Napoli, respectively.
As the transfer window unfolds, speculation around Isak may continue, but for now, Newcastle appear determined to hold onto their prized striker.
Eddie Howe’s public stance underscores that the club sees Isak as a central figure in their plans, regardless of the financial muscle being flexed elsewhere.