The Newcastle United head coach is ready to say farewell to Alexander Isak after the pair have not spoken for a fortnight
Eddie Howe walks with Alexander Isak
Eddie Howe and Alexander Isak(Image: PA)
Eddie Howe has warned Alexander Isak he won't "derail" his exciting Newcastle United project. Howe has been left furious with Isak's behaviour this summer and it is understood that the head coach has not spoken to the brooding Swede for a FORTNIGHT, leaving many at the club in no doubt the striker's time is up on Tyneside.
Isak - still training alone - is currently in the departure lounge at St James' Park after the club agreed a record fee for German star Nick Woltemade with the £69million move set to pave the way for the Sweden international's exit - and more signings could arrive before deadline day.
Howe stated that he had now passed on Isak's situation to the club's Saudi-backed owners PIF and he was focused on players who want to stay on Tyneside.
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When asked if the Isak saga was out of his hands, Howe told Chronicle Live: "That is where I have been for a long time with the Alex situation because it will be detrimental for me to invest any more time with that situation when I have 25/30 players needing every ounce of energy and time.
"And the team needs me to focus on trying to get results, that is what I have tried to do.
"Other people are dealing with that situation for me, it has been: 'Let me focus on the players are playing and can influence other results'."
Howe then said Isak's refusal to play and demands to win a move to Liverpool could not dent his exciting Newcastle project with Woltemade set to be followed by a second striker as talks continue with Wolves for Jorgen Strand Larsen:
Howe said he is ready to turn the page on an eventful summer and said: "For me as soon as the season starts and the action begins you are into a totally different place.
"You have to get results and look after performances, and there is such an exciting season ahead, you don't want anything to derail from the positivity that should be directed towards the team and getting results.
"It is hard enough to do it against all the other distractions we have faced this summer, but I think the players have faced that really well.
"But we are going to have to continue to do that because the challenge only gets bigger.
"The other side of this international break, the games will explode upon us, and we need to be ready for that challenge ahead."
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