Eddie Howe now ready to take drastic Isak measure as Liverpool saga continue
The atmosphere at Newcastle United’s Benton training ground remains tense as the Alexander Isak saga drags on, leaving manager Eddie Howe with increasingly limited options.
The Swedish striker’s future at the club hangs in the balance, with Liverpool lurking in the background, waiting to pounce if the situation deteriorates further.
This isn’t the first time Howe has dealt with a high-profile fallout at Newcastle. The most notable prior incident involved Ryan Fraser, who was exiled to the reserves after a breakdown in relations and never played for the first team again.
At the time, Howe made it clear that only players fully committed to the club would be part of his plans. Now, with Isak’s commitment in serious doubt, history may be repeating itself—but with far greater consequences.
Unlike Fraser, Isak’s situation is layered with complexities. As Newcastle’s record signing and one of their most talented players, his absence leaves a gaping hole in the squad.
Yet, despite training alone after hours at Benton and skipping team-bonding events—including a recent barbecue the striker has remained silent on his true intentions.
Speculation swirls over whether he feels let down by the club’s lack of a contract offer or unfulfilled promises.
Howe, known for his man-management skills, has attempted to reintegrate Isak gradually. The original plan was to bring him back into full training following Newcastle’s pre-season tour.
However, tensions escalated when Howe admitted he only learned of Isak’s solo training sessions in Spain through media reports—a clear sign of broken communication. The manager’s frustration was evident when he stated that players must “earn the right to train with the first team.”
With the Premier League season fast approaching, time is running out for reconciliation. If Isak refuses to play and a move to Liverpool fails to materialize, Newcastle may have no choice but to demote him to the reserves a fate previously suffered by the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylvain Marveaux, and others.
While such a move would send a strong message, it would also represent a costly waste of talent for a club with ambitions of competing at the highest level.
The parallels to Fraser’s exit are striking. Last summer, Newcastle faced a similar dilemma before eventually selling the winger to Southampton just days after a match against the Saints.
Intriguingly, Liverpool’s interest in Isak could follow a similar timeline, with the two clubs set to meet early in the season. The prospect of Isak lining up against Newcastle in a high-profile Monday night fixture is a nightmare scenario for the Magpies’ hierarchy—one they are desperate to avoid.
In the meantime, Howe has pressed forward with transfer business, securing Malick Thiaw from AC Milan and pursuing Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey. But no signing can fully compensate for losing a player of Isak’s caliber.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether this standoff ends in reconciliation, a lucrative sale, or an ugly stalemate that benefits no one.
For now, the door remains slightly ajar for Isak. But if he continues to distance himself from the squad, Newcastle may have no choice but to close it for good.