Yet another striker option has emerged for Newcastle United, with intermediaries now reportedly pushing the Magpies to sign a fresh alternative to Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Howe has say on latest Isak update
Whilst the rest of the Newcastle squad were preparing for battle against Liverpool, Alexander Isak was left to watch on from afar - still on strike and desperate to leave St James' Park. Whether a home visit from Newcastle directors Jamie Reuben and Jacobo Solis earlier that same day changed anything is unknown at this stage, but there's no denying that Eddie Howe's side suffered without the Swede once again.
Howe reiterated the pride that he has in his side following their last-gasp defeat against Liverpool, which saw them fight back from 2-0 down to level the game with 10 men after Anthony Gordon's red card. But ultimately, he'll be just as frustrated as the rest of those at St James' Park that Newcastle couldn't turn their dominance into at least a point.
The manager also answered his weekly question on the Isak situation, but admitted that he's not been party to talks over the forward's future and is instead focusing on the squad that he has available.
"I've not been party to talks on this for a long time now. I've been concentrating on preparing the team and giving all my energy to the players who want to play for Newcastle, I think that's where it's best placed now.
"It would be ideal to have clarity and move forward, and change the narrative because it's the start of the season and we've got to get results and focus on what we can control."
Of course, what Newcastle can attempt to get control of is their own incomings as they look to finally sign a striker. And on that front, another name looks to have emerged as an alternative option to Jorgen Strand Larsen.
As reported by Italian journalist Filippo Biafora, intermediaries are now pushing Newcastle to sign Artem Dovbyk from AS Roma and are attempting to set a deal up between the two clubs. The forward looks likely to leave the Italian club this summer and could provide those in Tyneside with the perfect solution to their problems.
roma-artem-dovbyk-leeds
After seeing an opening offer worth £50m rejected for Jorgen Strand Larsen, the Magpies may find themselves back to the drawing board for the umpteenth time this summer if their next offer doesn't satisfy Wolves' demands. That's when Dovbyk could become an ideal option, however.
League stats 24/25 Dovbyk Strand Larsen
Minutes 2,418 2,587
Goals 12 14
Assists 2 4
Expected Goals 11.9 10.3
When compared last season, Dovbyk and Strand Larsen could only be separated by four goal involvements in what was an underrated season for the Ukraine international. Like fellow rumoured target Dusan Vlahovic, he stands at 6 foot 3, and his physical style has drawn comparisons to both the Serbia star and fellow Serie A front man Romelu Lukaku.
Praised for his "powerful left foot" by analyst Ben Mattinson, Dovbyk is likely to be far cheaper than Strand Larsen whilst arguably offering the same quality. Unlike in Strand Larsen and Wolves' case too, it seems as though Roma are keen to sanction a deal for their forward.