Eddie Howe has reflected on Alexander Isak’s public statement insisting on a move from Newcastle, saying the situation “will come to an end pretty quickly.”
Isak coaxed the flames around his future at Newcastle on Tuesday night when he posted a statement on Instagram accusing the club of breaking promises.
Newcastle responded by refuting Isak’s claims but did not fully close the door on a deal being struck before the transfer deadline.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Liverpool on Monday night, Howe gave his take on the situation and claimed the saga “is coming to an end.”
“The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United. It will do that in every situation,” the manager explained.
“It looks like it is coming to an end, or it will come to an end pretty quickly.”
Alexander Isak’s Newcastle future is in doubt amid intense speculation of the Sweden striker joining Liverpool (Martin Rickett/PA)
Whether that means in terms of Isak staying or Newcastle securing the replacements needed before sanctioning a British record transfer remains to be seen.
But given the Swede’s comments it seems more likely that he will push harder for an exit – and Thursday saw developments from St James’ Park over moves for Wolves‘ Jorgen Strand Larsen and Chelsea‘s Nicolas Jackson.
“When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue,” the striker wrote in his statement.
“That’s where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interest of everyone, not just myself.”
Despite those comments – and needing to rule his striker out of another game – Howe insisted he was still hopeful of reintegrating Isak.
Alexander Isak has been a big hit on Tyneside since his £63million switch from Real Sociedad (Owen Humphreys/PA)
“He’s contracted to us, he’s our player,” he continued.
“My wish is that he would be playing on Monday night with us, but he won’t be and that’s regrettable in this moment.
“But 100 percent, I want to see him back in a Newcastle shirt.”
However, asked directly about how he would bring Isak back into the fold, Howe was less emphatic, saying: “I think that’s probably a conversation for another day.
“At the moment that is not an option for us. So rather than talk hypotheticals, I’d rather talk when we get there, when we get to that point.
“Then of course we’ll enter that phase and see what we need to do to try and get the best for Alex, get the best for the team, which is always the priority.”