Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has described the situation with Alexander Isak as “complex” and “far from ideal.”

Isak has made it clear that he wants to leave Newcastle this summer and was left out of the squad for their pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea. The striker has been training individually at his former club Real Sociedad.

On Friday afternoon, The Athletic reported that Liverpool had made an offer worth £110million plus add-ons for the Sweden international, but Newcastle rejected the offer. Liverpool are not inclined to bid again after the swift rebuttal to their first offer but remain interested in the 25-year-old striker.

At a press conference in Seoul ahead of Newcastle’s pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Howe was asked multiple questions about Isak’s future.

“I think from my situation, I am very much removed from everything that is happening back home,” he said. “I was made aware there was a bid yesterday. That bid was turned down before I heard about it. There are people back in England dealing with the situation. I really don’t know what is going to happen next, but from our perspective, we still support Alex in every way, and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.

Howe was then asked if he knew of Isak’s whereabouts and if he had permission to be there. Newcastle signed Isak from Real Sociedad in 2022, and he still has three years remaining on his contract.

“I know where he is through the media, so I think from that perspective it’s difficult for me to go into any detail,” the 47-year-old said. “The situation is far from ideal. It is quite complex. I think that is all I have got to say.”

There was some positive news for Newcastle supporters; midfielder Joe Willock has not suffered a long-term injury.

“We initially feared he could have injured part of his Achilles, but thankfully that wasn’t the case,” Howe said. “It looks like he has a problem with a muscle in his calf. We feel that the injury is not as serious as first feared, so it’s great news, but it’s still going to keep him out for a number of weeks. How many we are not sure. Early diagnosis is looking like four to six weeks. So, although being a blow, it’s probably better than the initial thought.”

Analysis: Newcastle leaving door open to Isak

Nobody can say with any certainty how the situation with Isak will play out, but Newcastle’s approach this summer has been consistent, even while uncertainty has engulfed them.

Their starting point has always been that they do not wish to sell the Sweden international and have no financial need to. They value him in the region of £150m, way short of Liverpool’s unofficial and official bids. And they also need quality reinforcements of their own.

Clearly, this close season has been awful. They have struggled to sign players; a host of their leading targets have moved elsewhere, they have no sporting director or chief executive, and Isak wants out.

But what they have been very careful to do is leave exit routes clear at all times. They have always seen a way forward where Isak remains their player, even if only for one more season.

With Liverpool briefing they will not bid again, can Newcastle tough it out? There has been no public criticism of Isak for staying behind when Howe’s squad travelled to East Asia for their pre-season tour. There has been no criticism of him for training alone with Real Sociedad, his former club.

Howe has bent over backwards to shower his leading forward with praise and love. As he said in South Korea on Saturday: “From our perspective, we still support Alex in every way, and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.”

That message has been reiterated at the very top of the club. “He can 100 per cent be reintegrated,” a leading source told The Athletic, speaking anonymously in order to do so freely. “We’re rivals to Liverpool. He can have a great season for us.”

While there is annoyance at the way Liverpool have targeted Isak and then low-balled Newcastle, that annoyance has not been directed the player’s way.

George Caulkin

(Top photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)