Newcastle United make Alexander Isak stance clear amid latest Liverpool transfer claims.
Newcastle United are still prepared to welcome Alexander Isak back into the first-team picture despite completing the club record buy of Nick Woltemade.
The German international put pen to paper on a ‘long-term deal’ at St James’ Park on Saturday - his transfer fee from Stuttgart surpassing the £63million the Magpies paid for Isak. And while many have assumed the Magpies would now look to actively offload Isak following the high-profile purchase, NewcastleWorld understands Newcastle United’s stance is not quite that black and white.
While Isak remains on the periphery at the club - and Liverpool continue to wait in the wings for a potential deal in the final days of the transfer window - Newcastle remain ‘happy’ with the idea of reintegration and ‘comfortable’ that can be achieved following the closure of the summer transfer window. The window slams shut on Monday, at 7pm GMT.
Newcastle United - no need to sell
Woltemade is, at this stage, very much a striker brought in to boost the current ranks, after the exit of Callum Wilson, although Howe is loath to label the German international as a direct replacement. And, should Newcastle be unable to add another striker between now and Monday, the door remains wide open for Isak to stay - this is despite claims in the media in the last 24 hours that a move to Anfield was agreed.
The fact of the matter is, Newcastle are, according to sources, in a strong financial position, and despite claims to the contrary, have absolutely no need to sell Isak to satisfy any PSR concerns or even offset their spend of more than £200milion this summer.
Eddie Howe makes his Alexander Isak transfer stance clear
Isak again trained alone on Thursday and Friday at the club’s Benton training base, while the rest of the squad prepared for the clash with Leeds United on Saturday evening.
When asked about the situation - and whether he’d still welcome Isak back - by press on Friday, head coach Howe said: “Of course I would have a preference [on whether Isak stays or leaves]. But ultimately you have got to look at all the information.
“So of course I have a footballing preference, but then you have to take everything else into account, you can’t just be oblivious to things that have happened. So I’m in that position really, where I’m trying to separate myself because I have no control over it. I will let everything take its course and then deal with the eventuality.
“I don’t think you can be emotionally involved. If you’re emotionally involved you’re going to make a bad decision.
“I’ve had to separate myself from it, as Alex exited the squad, initially. I took the view that the squad needed me to be the best me and be totally focused on them.
“This situation was not going to be resolved quickly and I had no control over bringing any resolution to it. I was in that position when I took the call to move forward with the squad.”
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