Yasir Al-Rumayyan was in the stands for Monday night's dramatic 3-2 defeat to Liverpool, and while the club's chairman wasn't involved in the talks with Isak in person, he is said to be fully behind Newcastle's efforts to get the striker back on board.
Howe refused to be drawn on reports Jamie Reuben and a PIF delegation had met with Isak, saying: “I'm not aware of that, but I've not been party to talks on this for a long time now.
"I've been preparing the team and giving all my energy to the players that want to play for Newcastle. I think that is where my energy is best put at the moment."
But asked whether clarity is needed before next Monday's deadline, the head coach added: “I think that's the ideal from everyone on our side, Newcastle's side.
"We want clarity, we want to move forward, we want the narrative to change because we're in the start of the season now."
**RECOMMENDED READING:**
Al-Rumayyan's visit came as Liverpool weigh up whether to make an improved offer for Isak. And the chairman will have the final say on what happens with the striker in the final week of the window.
“I don't know why he's here in the sense of if that's \[Isak\] is the main reason," said Howe.
"He's here, obviously, to watch the team and support the team and show his presence, which is much-appreciated from my perspective and much-loved by everyone when he's here and connecting with the players.
"He's the owner, he's the most important person terms of directing which decisions we make, but as I said, I'm not party to any conversations that have happened today, so I've got no idea what direction that's in."
Asked whether he still hopes Newcastle can keep Isak, Howe, who hasn't spoken to the striker since his statement last Tuesday, said: “As I say, I'm not party to the talks that have been happening, so I've got no idea where that stands right at this second."
Newcastle fought back from 2-0 down with 10-men to almost salvage a draw that was the very least they deserved against Liverpool, and afterwards Howe again stressed the importance of having players who are "committed" to Newcastle.
But he added: "There's no intentional dig at Alex but naturally I want players who are committed to Newcastle.
"That's one of the most important qualities. That's no dig at anybody. Any manager will feel the same way."
Newcastle had a £50m bid for Jorgen Strand Larsen knocked back by Wolves on Monday and time is running out as they continue their efforts to bolster the forward line and replace Callum Wilson.
Howe said: “Your names at the beginning of the window and at the end of the window are always very different because a lot of the players will have moved, so naturally I think that's always the case if you're still active in the market, which we are.
“But as I've said all through the window we have to be careful we don't make a decision that impacts the long term and future windows and gives us big problems, so any decision we make will always be based around controlling PSR, good financial decisions, but also against our need and our need is there, so let's see what happens in the next few days."