Eddie Howe confident Alexander Isak will stay at Newcastle as he misses friendly
The 25-year-old, who pulled out of Sweden's friendly double header last month because of a groin injury, has been linked with a potential move to Liverpool this summer and, more recently, with Saudi club Al-Hilal.
Howe is desperate to keep the forward, who netted 27 goals last season.
Asked to explain the absence of Isak and Joelinton after the 4-0 defeat, Howe said: 'Both players are fit but we just felt they weren't ready to play.
'Joe's coming back from a long injury, so we need to make sure when he's introduced he's ready.
'Alex has trained this week and is fine but we didn't want to take the risk with him. Alex was with us all the way through Austria but, with all the speculation and things that are going on, I decided to send him home.
'It's purely the last thing Alex wants, if he's not playing, to be sat in the stand. Being under that scrutiny, I don't think that's fair to the player.'
A massive thank you to the 10,000 Geordies who travelled to Celtic Park this afternoon for your incredible support 👏
Safe journey home. Next stop: Singapore! 🇸🇬 pic.twitter.com/2KuS1M1V8x
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) July 19, 2025
Howe declared there had been no formal approach for Isak this summer but added: 'It's difficult for me to give 100 per cent clarity on any player. I'd never sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what could happen.
'All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team.
'I've never had any issue with him other than really enjoying seeing his talent and seeing him express himself. Certainly I'm confident that he's going to be here at the start of the season.
'Your top players are so hard to find, they're so hard to recruit, they're so hard to develop and make them into those players. So when you have them, you need to treasure them.
'We certainly and the staff, recognise his talent and his ability. We're of course desperate to keep him part of our team.
'Alex has been really good and he's trained really well so far this season. So I know there'll be lots of noise around it and I can't really control that but from inside, he's been really good.'
Good run out in Stockholm @LUFC 🔋 pic.twitter.com/FX67pVPGc2
— Sean Longstaff (@seanlongstaff97) July 19, 2025
Howe has had his frustrations in the transfer market this summer. Forward Callum Wilson rejected a new contract and the Newcastle manager reluctantly allowed Sean Longstaff to join Leeds on Friday with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules a major factor.
'Sean was someone I never wanted to lose from the squad,' Howe said. 'But as we know and I've said many times, finances, PSR etc, long-term planning meant that sometimes these decisions have to be taken.
'So he's a big miss from our squad. Sean was very, very popular in the dressing room, very popular on the pitch. He did a great job. He tactically understood everything that we needed him to do.
'He's been an incredible servant to Newcastle. But we have to move on now without him.'
On the defeat by Celtic, Howe said: 'I think we looked a little bit jaded. Celtic, I thought were way ahead of us fitness-wise and sharpness-wise. But I think we'll be better for the game.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
John Stones fires warning to Manchester City's Premier League rivals
John Stones is convinced Manchester City have the 'fire in our bellies' to regain their Premier League title. City surrendered the crown they won in the previous four seasons to Liverpool during an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign. Defender Stones believes lessons have been learned and has detected a strong desire to put things right since the players have reported for pre-season training. The England international said: 'It was humbling for us after all the success that we've had. 'It makes us realise what we've done, what we've achieved over the years and how proud we should be, but we're obviously frustrated at what we did last season. It's not what we want to replicate. 'To finish third, three or four points behind Arsenal is – to our standards – not good, (nor) how we played through the season. 'We've got to put that right and get back to our identity, get back to winning matches and having that presence about us and believing in ourselves as a team. 'I'm sure we'll find that and bring it back because it was tough last season to go through what we did. We've definitely come back with that fire in our bellies to go and achieve.' Stones is now fit after an injury-hit past season but was not risked by manager Pep Guardiola during the Club World Cup in the summer. Despite not featuring, the 31-year-old made emphatically clear when speaking to media during that tournament that he would not be leaving the club. Entering the final year of his contract, there had been speculation about his future but the former Everton player hopes that has now been shut down. He said: 'It's laughable to me. I understand why people do it but there's nothing to comment on. 'I love it here, nothing's happening. I'm here to fight and play and hopefully win some trophies.' Stones was speaking as City held an open training session alongside the club's women's side at the Joie Stadium on the fringe of their training complex on Tuesday. City now have a friendly at Palermo on Saturday before facing Wolves in their opening Premier League game at Molineux on August 16. The side is taking on a different shape with new signings Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders having been integrated during the Club World Cup, in which City reached the last 16. Their arrivals continued a squad refresh after the signings of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in January. Stones said: 'Things evolve, football evolves, and the guys that have come in have been great. 'It takes a bit of time, obviously, to get used to the style of play, what's expected, but the guys have come in for a reason. 'With the quality that they've got, the aspects of the game are different from what we've had in the past. I'm excited to play with them and see what they do.'
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Lyon sign Liverpool midfielder Morton for £15m
Lyon have signed midfielder Tyler Morton from Liverpool for £15mMorton joined Liverpool's academy aged seven and was handed his senior debut in 22-year-old struggled to force his way into the first team on a regular basis, making 14 appearances across all competitions, and spent time on loan in the Championship with Hull and helped England's under-21 side win the European Championship earlier this were demoted to France's second tier earlier in the summer due to their poor financial state but were reinstated to Ligue 1 after winning their boss Arne Slot has invested heavily in the squad during the off-season, with over £250m spent on new additions following their title triumph in on players, especially academy graduates, is essential to ensure they can abide by the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR).Jarrell Quansah also came through the club's system and was sold for £35m to Bayer Leverkusen last month.
Daily Mirror
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd to have major say in Liverpool's £150m Alexander Isak transfer chase
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak continues to face an uncertain future and the Sweden international's next move could hinge on Manchester United's business The future of Liverpool target Alexander Isak could yet be impacted with old rivals Manchester United. While United aren't in for Isak themselves, their transfer battle with Newcastle over Benjamin Sesko could have a knock-on effect on the Swede. Liverpool's initial approach for Isak was knocked back by Newcastle, who want close to £150million for their leading man. They have bid roughly half that for Slovenia international Sesko - £69.5m plus up to £8m in add-ons - but dont have a clear run at the RB Leipzig star. According to The Telegraph, Liverpool have no plans to make a renewed bid for Isak as things stand. However, the same publication indicates things might change if the Magpies sign a new striker. Manchester United have a chance to throw a spanner in the works, then. If they are able to beat Eddie Howe's side to Sesko then, in all likelihood, Isak will be going nowhere. The latest developments come as United and Newcastle both brace for a decision from Sesko - with a deadline potentially coming as soon as Tuesday night. The striker is ready to trade the Bundesliga for the Premier League, but both clubs will feel they have a case. It has been a frustrating summer so far for Newcastle. Anthony Elanga their only senior outfield signing, joining in a £55m move from Nottingham Forest, while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has joined from Southampton. They have missed out on other targets, though, with French striker Hugo Ekitike opting for Liverpool and Joao Pedro choosing Chelsea. It's not just forwards who have looked elsewhere, either, with centre-back Dean Huijsen moving to Real Madrid and goalkeeper James Trafford deciding to rejoin Manchester City. One man who could yet move to St James' Park is Yoane Wissa. Eddie Howe's side have so far failed to meet Brentford's asking price for the Congolese international, who has now returned to training in West London, but there is still time left in the window. "We're looking for the best players that we can get," Newcastle manager Howe said over the weekend. "Whatever our target position is, we're looking for the best so I see all situations open and available to us. I feel that's the only way that we're going to get to where we want to go, which is to maximise, and it's quality over quantity. "It always has been. That's always been the way that we try to work and the way that we try to recruit, and I think we've done it pretty well to this point. "It's been a challenging summer, because we've missed out on various targets for loads of different reasons, but we're still very competitive, and we're still in there trying to bring very good players to the club - and that won't change til the window shuts."
