Howe: Isak’s Newcastle future not my decision

Eddie Howe has admitted he will not have the final say over striker Alexander Isak‘s future at Newcastle United.

The 25-year-old Sweden international is currently training by himself after taking no part in the club’s Sela Cup fixtures against Espanyol and Atlético Madrid this weekend, having missed the Magpies’ trip to Singapore and South Korea amid Liverpool’s ongoing interest in him.

Newcastle have rejected a £110 million ($148 million) offer for Isak, who has three years remaining on his contract, from the Anfield club out of hand, but his situation remains shrouded in uncertainty.

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Asked after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Atleti at St James’ Park if he may have to let the player go, Howe said: “That’s a decision that I won’t make, that will be for other people to make.

“For me, I’m just trying to manage the situation and manage the team, most importantly manage the group of players that I’m working with day to day, that I love coaching and helping.

“We’re focusing on [next weekend’s Premier League opener against] Aston Villa. Everything else, to a degree, from my perspective is not in my control, so it’s not my focus.”

Asked further about a report that Isak had been told he will not be sold this summer, Howe added: “That’s not something I’m aware of. Of course, there’s discussions going on all the time that I’m not party to. I have no knowledge of that.”

The Magpies, who signed Isak from Real Sociedad in a £63m ($85m) swoop during the summer of 2022, have placed a £150m ($202m) price tag on his head in an effort to ward off potential suitors, but face a major task to persuade the player to continue his career at St James’.

Asked if he believed he could talk his star frontman round, head coach Howe said: “If it was that easy, I’d have done it yesterday.”

The Isak saga has added greater urgency to Newcastle’s transfer window mission, which has encountered repeated setbacks in recent weeks with Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, James Trafford and João Pedro having slipped through their fingers.

They were already looking to recruit another striker to replace the departed Callum Wilson, and Howe will hope Anthony Gordon does not add to his problems after limping off during Saturday’s game.

The 47-year-old said: “It’s an ankle problem. We initially maybe thought it was a muscle problem, but the good news is I think it was just a twist, so the initial feeling is he should be OK.”

In better news for Howe, Newcastle are understood to be closing in on a deal for AC Milan’s Germany international defender Malick Thiaw, although he said: “I’ve been preparing these two games the last two days, so I’m not updated on anything that’s happened.”