Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has conceded that the club is in a “lose-lose situation” regarding the uncertainty surrounding star striker Alexander Isak’s future.
The Swedish forward, who finished as the Premier League’s second-highest scorer last season and fired the winner in the League Cup final, publicly declared his desire to leave earlier this week, amid strong interest from Liverpool.
Newcastle quickly responded with a statement rejecting Isak’s claims that the club had failed to honour promises made to him. Reports suggest the 25-year-old had been expecting an improved contract, but the Magpies delayed negotiations due to financial sustainability constraints.
Liverpool are said to have had an initial £110m bid rejected, with Newcastle demanding a British record fee of £150m. Despite the growing speculation, Isak will not feature when the two sides meet in the Premier League on Monday, as he continues to train separately from the main squad.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Howe admitted the standoff had become difficult for the club to handle.
“I think it is a lose-lose situation for us because I don’t think we can come out of this winning in any way,” Howe said.
“We love Alex for what he has done and the professionalism he has shown since joining us. Unfortunately, the past few months have been difficult, but this will come to an end soon and then we can focus on football again.”
The Newcastle boss also left the door open for Isak’s return if a transfer fails to materialise before the September 1 deadline.
“Alex is a fantastic player and a great character. If he decided to stay and play, the players would welcome him back,” Howe added.
However, any potential sale may depend on Newcastle’s ability to secure a replacement. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen are currently among their top targets, following unsuccessful pursuits of Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro.
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