Alexander Isak is now at **Liverpool**after making a record £125 million move from Newcastle United. Eddie Howe has borne the brunt of the media's interest in the saga, but now he is happy to focus on the tools available and stressed, "we start from zero" against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
‘Communication became difficult from that point’
Howe highlighted that he had enjoyed most of the time that Isak was on the books with the Toon.
The Swedish striker was part of two squads that qualified for both the Champions League and the final of the Carabao Cup final in 2023 and 2025. He scored over 20 Premier League goals in his last two seasons for Newcastle and netted the second strike against **Liverpool**at Wembley Stadium.
“Alex and I always enjoyed a great relationship. I loved working with him. I hope he loved working with us. It was mutually beneficial. I think we helped him become the player he is today. He helped us as a team achieved some unbelievable milestones and of course he was part of a successful team.”
But the beginning of the end was the manner of the striker's fallout with the club at the end of July.
“I think just giving you a bit more on that I think the moment that he went on strike our relationship did change. I think that was probably a turning point that our relationship took. I just think obviously communication became difficult from that point onwards. I won't go into it any more than that.”
The 25-year-old missed the preseason tour with a "minor thigh injury", then went to train at the facilities of Real Sociedad, and stated his desire to depart for the good of all involved parties on Instagram. In the end, he would get his wish, but it was at the expense of the manager's clarity.
“I did not know which way things were going to fall right until the end. All I'll ever do is adjust to what the future now looks like and that future now is without Alex.”
‘The future’s there to be made’
It was a painful blow for the Englishman, who had taken every step to ensure the excellence of the striker in the long term. Isak arrived as a record £63 million signing from the Basque Country, but minutes were managed in rotation with Callum Wilson to take the pressure off his shoulders.
“Alex did not play every game at the start. He was rotated with Callum and he was he was bedded in gently and I think that really helped his long-term success. So, I think that every player's different.”
Now what matters most is moving forward. The squad suffered some instability in his absence, but their spirit has been stronger than ever in the performances during the start of the season. With the finishing touch, three points would not have been undeserved against Aston Villa or Liverpool.
“Alex was closer to some players than others. I think that's natural. But I think the players were very good at sort of focusing on what they could directly control and they knew that that was the football.”
New record signing, £69 million man Nick Woltemade, is fit to start after his move from Stuttgart. Yoane Wissa is waiting in the wings as a £55 million pickup from Brentford. With the other pieces of the puzzle in order, Howe is happy to do what he does best and get the most out of a settled side.
“We start again and we start from zero and we have to earn everything and achieve everything then together from a from a very clear start point. I think that's a really important message to the players because you can't live off last season. You can't live off history. The future's there to be made for us.”