The Alexander Isak saga has dominated what is now starting to somehow look like a positive summer for Newcastle United.
While the opening couple of months were difficult for Newcastle United in the transfer market, they’ve made progress of late.
Jacob Ramsey is set to become the latest addition to the Newcastle United squad, following Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale and Malick Thiaw through the door.
Newcastle are also trying to sign Yoane Wissa, meaning Eddie Howe could have a much deeper squad compared to last season.
The Isak situation, however, remains the biggest story. He wants to leave for Liverpool and will not be involved in the Newcastle set-up until a resolution is found.
Not having perhaps the world’s best striker is thoroughly unhelpful for Newcastle ahead of their Premier League opener away at Aston Villa on Saturday. Still, the Newcastle United manager doesn’t believe it’ll have too much of an impact on the group.
Alexander Isak during Newcastle United pre-season training in Austria
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Eddie Howe says Newcastle United players have accepted Alexander Isak debacle
Senior Newcastle players have tried to convince Isak to stay, although that has not worked thus far.
There is a chance, of course, that the Sweden international remains on Tyneside for the 2025/26 season.
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Still, it’s undoubtedly an unwelcome distraction. Having to bat away questions about one of their teammates cannot have been easy.
While Howe has admitted that the Isak saga had been an issue at the start of pre-season, he’s suggested that the rest of the squad have grown to accept the situation – as unclear as it is right now.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Howe said: “I think morale was certainly affected early on during pre-season.
“There was nothing I could do to affect that – it was always going to be there.
“When you have a player that good who is not part of your group, it’s difficult for the players to fully understand it and to know what’s going on and how to react.
“But, as time has gone on, there has been an acceptance this is the squad and we have got to make the best of the situation. That’s always been my train of thought.”
Eddie Howe suggests Alexander Isak is set to stay at Newcastle United
There have been reports suggesting Newcastle have blocked Isak’s move to Liverpool.
Obviously, it’s difficult to call what might happen. Should The Magpies sign a striker or two, perhaps they’ll soften their stance that a clearly unhappy player isn’t for sale.
Debate will rage about whether that’s a good idea or not but – for now at least – Isak is still a Newcastle player. Just one who appears to have little interest in actually playing for them.
Asked whether or not he believes Isak will still be at Newcastle after the transfer window shuts, Howe said at Friday’s pre-match press conference before the Aston Villa game: “At the moment I would say yes, but I’ve had no change of feeling throughout the summer. He’s contracted to us but it’s out of my hands.”