{"id":38364,"date":"2025-07-26T08:56:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T08:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/38364\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T08:56:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T08:56:08","slug":"eddie-howe-newcastle-board-have-a-decision-to-make-on-alexander-isak-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/38364\/","title":{"rendered":"Eddie Howe: Newcastle board \u2018have a decision to make\u2019 on Alexander Isak future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eddie Howe admits that Newcastle United\u2019s board \u201chave a decision to make\u201d when it comes to Alexander Isak\u2019s future, but insists that whatever the outcome it must be in the best interests of the club.<\/p>\n

The striker has told Newcastle that he wants to explore a potential exit<\/a> this summer, following Liverpool communicating their interest. No formal offer has been received for Isak, who is absent from Newcastle\u2019s East Asia tour. The club insisted Isak was left behind because of a minor thigh problem but The Athletic reported on Thursday sources, speaking anonymously as they were not authorised to do so publicly, indicated the forward favoured being omitted amid his uncertain future.<\/p>\n

The message that has been reiterated from the very top of the club is that Isak is not for sale this summer. However, Howe accepts that in the \u201cwider picture\u201d, Newcastle may be forced to make a seismic call on the striker should they actually receive a British-record offer, and he insists that, ultimately, that will be the board\u2019s decision, not that of the head coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve experienced that many times and it\u2019s never the same situation,\u201d Howe said in Singapore, when asked about what happens when a player communicates their desire to leave, rather than specifically about Isak. \u201cThere\u2019s loads of different things that can happen in that scenario.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve welcomed players back to the group, obviously sold players all throughout my management career, because that\u2019s part of being a football manager. Every situation we take on an individual basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there\u2019s a wider picture here. There\u2019s a whole football club that has to make the decision. The ownership, together with the board of directors, especially with the money involved in modern day transfers. The manager of course has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s always big decisions to make when you\u2019re at Newcastle. I think that goes with the territory.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not actually having daily contact with anyone connected with the board. We\u2019re out here. It\u2019s been a whirlwind here in a sense of training and the intensity of what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pushed as to whether it is important that Newcastle make a decision on Isak\u2019s future swiftly, Howe denied that was the case. He did stress the need to replace any outgoing player, though, with Benjamin Sesko among Newcastle\u2019s potential targets<\/a> if they do sell Isak.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t put a timescale on it,\u201c Howe said. \u201dWith these situations, it has to be right for the football club, and obviously everything then is taken into context below that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has, and ultimately to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it\u2019s up to us then to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to do, regardless of Alex\u2019s situation. Of course, we want stability and we want the group to have a really good feeling. And I have to say, the feeling during pre-season has been as good as any other.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I don\u2019t think we\u2019re distracted. We\u2019re here, we\u2019re focused and we\u2019re working hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Isak joined Newcastle in 2022 (Harriet Massey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Once more, Howe said that he was confident Isak would stay, but stopped short of a firm commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re trying to put words in my mouth there\u201d Howe said, when asked if he \u201cexpected\u201d Isak to stay. \u201cI said after Celtic, I certainly hope he stays. And I said I was confident that he\u2019d stay.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see anything that\u2019s going to change that opinion of mine at the moment, but it\u2019s football and who knows what the future may bring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howe described this window as \u201cchallenging\u201d for Newcastle but revealed that the club are working on deals for \u201cmultiple players across multiple positions\u201d, even if nothing is imminent. \u201cQuality over quantity\u201d is what he desires, which is narrowing the pool of potential recruits.<\/p>\n

Newcastle\u2019s window from now will largely be dictated by the Isak situation, though, and Howe did not deny that the striker had communicated that he wants to leave. But he would not be drawn on the specifics of any conversations.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course there\u2019s things going on behind the scenes,\u201c Howe said. \u201dI mean he will be aware he\u2019s in the news every day, and I\u2019m sure that\u2019s not easy for anyone in that situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cConversations that happen between Alex and the club or Alex and myself will stay private for obvious reasons. We do share a really good relationship with him. He\u2019s been magnificent for us for as long as he\u2019s joined. He\u2019s very popular in the dressing room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d love him to continue his journey at Newcastle, and all I would say on the broader picture is whatever happens has to be right for Newcastle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in a very strong position financially. We\u2019re determined to be successful. We are ambitious. We\u2019ve got a great season ahead of us. We need to add to the squad and continue to improve, and the journey can continue in an upward trajectory.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we all want, so that\u2019s what we\u2019re battling to try and achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howe confirmed that contract talks are not currently active with Isak, suggesting they would take place after the window closes, should the striker stay. His existing Newcastle deal runs until 2028.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as I\u2019m aware, I don\u2019t think there are any contract talks taking place at the moment. That\u2019ll be for a later date potentially,\u201c Howe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, with the situation as it is and the state of the window in the sense that it\u2019s hurtling towards the end very quickly from our perspective, there\u2019s still so much that could happen. Those contract talks potentially may take place at a later date.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isak\u2019s thigh problem first flared up before the Celtic match and then Howe revealed that the striker was forced out of training on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s now in Newcastle getting that injury assessed and hopefully he\u2019ll be back soon and playing in the black-and-white shirt,\u201d Howe said. \u201cThat\u2019s what we all want to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

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