Newcastle United have battled Manchester United for Benjamin Sesko in recent weeks, while Alexander Isak's future remains up in the air
Aaron Stokes
Newcastle United target Benjamin Sesko(Image: Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Newcastle United target Benjamin Sesko
Newcastle United target Benjamin Sesko(Image: Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Newcastle United are back to the drawing board after watching yet another target opt for a rival Premier League suitor this summer.
As of Wednesday morning, Chronicle Live understands Newcastle had not been informed of the player's decision - but talk has been growing that he wants to join Manchester United over the Magpies.
Yet another near-miss in the market only adds to the growing frustration for Eddie Howe and his recruitment team as the top flight curtain raiser with Aston Villa draws ever closer.
But while there will be yet another wave of disappointment and uncertainty glazing over the St James’ Park faithful, there is no time to dwell for those making the decisions at the top of the club.
Instead the emphasis must now be on keeping Alexander Isak at the football club beyond the window deadline. That simply must be priority number one.
The Swede has been back at Newcastle’s Benton base in recent days, with Howe and his senior stars returning for training on Wednesday.
Isak, as it stands, remains a Toon player. That won’t change, no matter how he personally feels, unless Liverpool return with an improved offer for his services. The Reds’ first offering, served up to Newcastle chiefs last week, was significantly below United’s £150m valuation.
Liverpool could be in a position to launch an improved offer for Isak, with Darwin Nunez likely heading out the door this month. Al-Hilal, majority owned by Newcastle’s owners - PIF - are currently locked in talks with the Uruguayan over a big-money move to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, no other suitors have emerged for Isak in recent weeks, painting the forward into somewhat of a corner if Liverpool decide to walk away from a deal this summer.
But Howe is ready for the star striker to earn his way back into the fold. Talks with be held between relevant parties in the coming days as the Newcastle boss comes face to face with the £63m man for the first time since he missed the club’s lucrative trips to Singapore and South Korea.
Newcastle fans may take a tad longer to fully reopen their arms to a player who has been pushing for the exit door but after a summer of transfer struggles, beggars can't be choosers.
Get Isak back on side, re-integrated with the group and back amongst the goals this month and the summer of shenanigans will likely be somewhat forgotten as the season rumbles on.
Or, at the very least, the can will be kicked down the road until January or next summer when Isak may get the exit he has desired - and Newcastle can have a replacement lined up ahead of time.
The only other option - if the 25-year-old remains set on departing the north east in the coming weeks - is for Newcastle to try and once again identify an alternative. This, after already failing to land Sesko, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and other big-name strikers. The list of potential replacements is far from inspiring at this stage of the summer and time really is running out to start from scratch with another drawn out pursuit.
So what next for United other than securing Isak's future? How do they wrestle back control of a bruising summer?
It can still be a positive period for the black and white outfit but only if they now persuade Isak to stay, sign a backup for him, strengthen at centre-back and look for a new central midfielder to replace Sean Longstaff.
Newcastle have been working tirelessly on deals in all of those positions of late and now need a big end of window push to ensure Howe has not been let down for the second summer on the trot.