Eddie Howe is having a summer no manager dreams of—unless that dream is a football-themed soap opera. Newcastle United’s head coach has been forced to address the latest twist in the Alexander Isak saga after Liverpool, fresh off their 20th league title, lobbed a casual £110 million grenade into St. James’ Park. The Reds want Isak. Isak wants the Reds. But Newcastle? They want £150 million and a little peace of mind.
Too bad peace is in short supply these days.
Eddie Howe says no, but for how long?
At a presser in Seoul (because of course this is all unfolding mid-tour), Eddie Howe looked less like a manager and more like a man trying to keep a Jenga tower from collapsing. “We support Alex in every way,” he said, clearly aware that Isak is currently training with his own entourage somewhere in sunny Spain. The striker’s tan may improve this preseason, but the vibes at Newcastle? Not so much.
Eddie Howe and the Newcastle chessboard
Isak scored 23 goals last season—second only to a certain Erling Haaland cyborg—and his absence on the pitch would be less a hole and more a gaping chasm. Yet Newcastle are already looking at Benjamin Sesko as a possible heir, because what’s a Premier League transfer window without a little love triangle?
While Howe insists that Newcastle are “doing things the right way,” Liverpool are reportedly planning a “grand gesture.” Roses? Chocolates? A serenade from Arne Slot himself? Who knows?
Eddie remains composed in chaos
To Howe’s credit, he’s not pointing fingers. He’s just holding his clipboard, managing a squad with one foot in the Far East and the other back home on fire. But come deadline day, if that £150 million is still up for grabs, then Howe may just let him go with a hug, a handshake and a new man on the line.
It’s all go in football’s silly season—and somehow Eddie Howe is still standing.
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