Eddie Howe was speaking after Liverpool beat Newcastle 3-2 in dramatic circumstances at St James' Park
Eddie Howe reacts at full-time following the team's defeat in the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park on August 25, 2025
(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Eddie Howe has called for clarity over Alexander Isak’s future after admitting he has “no idea” where Newcastle United now stand with the Liverpool transfer target.
Isak met with Newcastle co-owner Jamie Reuben and a delegation from the club’s owners the Public Investment Fund on Monday with the player continuing to train away from the Magpies’ first team.
Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is the governor of PIF, was in attendance at St James Park later in the evening to watch Liverpool secure a dramatic 3-2 Premier League win.
The Reds saw a £110million offer for Isak rejected at the start of the month and decided not to make another bid unless the landscape changed, which it has considerably over the last week.
But Howe admits he is being left in the dark over what will happen with Isak as the clock ticks down on the transfer deadline on September 1.
“I’ve not been party to talks on this for a long time now,” he said. “I’ve been preparing the team and giving my energy to players who want to play for Newcastle. That’s where my energy is best served.
“I have no idea where that (Isak) stands at this second. The ideal from Newcastle’s side is we want clarity, we want to move forward. We want the narrative to change.
“We are in the start of the season now and we have to get results and try to focus on what we can control. We’ve given two really good performances and taken just one point. That’s tough for us to take.
“The quality of Alex would have made a difference in the two games, there’s no denying that. But that said the team functioned well and the performance doesn’t happen without every part of the team functioning well.”
Newcastle won’t entertain the sale of Isak unless they recruit two new forwards, and continue to be frustrated in their attempts to sign Yoane Wisse of Brentford and have seen an offer rejected for Wolves’ forward Jorgan Strand Larsen.
“Your names at the beginning and end of window are always very different as a lot of player have moved,” said Howe.
“That’s always the case if you are still active in the market like we are. We have to be careful not to make a decision that could impact future windows. All decisions will be taken considering PSR and good financial decisions. Let’s see what happens.
“But if you do the maths we are running out of options in that position. I have to look at the positives. Osula came on and scored a goal so hopefully he can kick on.”
With Isak absent, Newcastle came from 2-0 down to level despite a red card for Anthony Gordon on the stroke of half-time for a challenge on Virgil van Dijk, only for 16-year-old Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha to score an injury-time winner on his Premier League debut.
Of the dismissal, Howe said: “I’ve seen it once but was in a bit of a rush as the game was ongoing. There’s no intent. He’s gone in too quickly. He’s tried to pull out and not commit any damage to Virgil. It’s an unfortunate one. I think he’s slightly unlucky with it.
“Everyone has told me it’s a clear red but I didn’t think that from my angle so I have sympathy for him.”
Howe added: “I have very mixed feelings. I thought it was a great performance from us. It wasn’t perfect, of course, but was very good in the first half, very dominant, very us, high octane, proper football.
“The only thing missing in that really strong start was a goal. We conceded a poor goal, first time in the game where we are not aggressive enough and second half was very different, a very different plan and really well executed by the players. It was a massive challenge for us.
“I can’t fault the players at all, they gave so much to the game. I'm absolutely gutted for them that we have nothing from it.”