Newcastle's Eddie Howe Addresses Alexander Isak Transfer Situation
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has revealed that he has not seen or spoken to striker Alexander Isak for a week, describing the ongoing situation as a "lose-lose scenario."
The Swedish forward is eager to join Liverpool, but Newcastle rejected a £110 million bid earlier this month.
Following the rejection, Isak issued a statement claiming that Newcastle had failed to uphold promises made to him.
Isak believed he would be permitted to leave if a major club made a suitable offer; however, Newcastle refuted this claim in their official response.
Currently, Isak is training separately from the first team and missed Newcastle's opening match of the new Premier League season. He is also set to miss the upcoming match against Liverpool on Monday.
Howe expressed uncertainty regarding Isak's future as the transfer window approaches its closure on September 1.
"I haven't seen him this week, but when we do meet, we communicate as usual; there are no issues there," Howe stated. "It's a challenging situation for both sides and certainly not ideal for anyone involved."
He added, "When we cross paths, we chat, but I haven't seen him this week as he is training later and separately from the group. We will catch up at some point and hopefully talk soon."
Should Isak remain with Newcastle after the transfer window, Howe indicated he would welcome him back into the team. "Yes, absolutely. He is under contract with us; he is our player. I wish he could play with us on Monday night, but unfortunately, he won't be, and that is regrettable," he said.
Despite the situation, Howe believes Isak's teammates would support his reintegration into the squad. "I have no doubt that the players will feel the same way I do. Alex is an exceptional player, a good person, and a valued member of our team," Howe remarked. "If Alex chooses to return and play for us, the players would welcome him back with open arms."