Eddie Howe Addresses Isak Saga: “It’s a Lose-Lose Situation for Us”

Alexander Isak headed into the summer believing he would be allowed to leave Newcastle. That he had given the club an agreed-to final season, played a key role in them earning Champions League football, and if a significant bid arrived he would be allowed to take the next step in his career.

With just a little more than a week to run in the summer transfer window, that’s not how things have played out. Newcastle have failed to bring in replacements, and so despite Liverpool being willing to pay a British record fee and the player being eager, Isak remains as Newcastle.

His reaction has been to down tools and complain of broken promises. The former has opened the striker up to criticism, but it certainly does appear that promises have been broke, and not even Newcastle manager Eddie Howe can say at this point how it will all play out next.

“I’m not a fortune teller,” Howe said when asked if Newcastle can find a positive resolution to the situation. “I’ve got no way of knowing what will happen in terms of getting some finality. The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United and will do that in every situation.

“I think it’s a lose-lose situation for us to a degree as I don’t think we can come out of this winning. It’s difficult to manage in the sense of what he’s contributed to the club and how professional he has been. It’s been an unfortunate couple of months that look like it’s coming to an end soon.”

To suggest that the saga is coming to an end soon rather leaves things open to interpretation. Deadline day is September 1st, after which if Isak is still a Newcastle player he will be through at least the end of December whether or not he then reintegrates and rejoins his teammates.

There is also, obviously, the possibility this long-running saga could come to an end by way of a completed transfer. That would seem a rather more conclusive ending than Newcastle keeping a player who has downed tools and is angry over broken promises for at least four more months.

“If Alex is to play for Newcastle United again then he will have to be totally committed and I don’t think it works out any other way,” Howe added. “That question is for another day, but any player that puts on the shirt and streps out onto the pitch has to be willing to give his all for the team.

“Me and Alex have had conversations about his future, yes. I’m not going to deny that. The individual conversations are better off remaining private but yes, we have had conversations about his future. This situation is just regrettable. It’s not something we wanted or that Alex wanted.”

Alexander Isak made it clear he wanted out at least a year ago but was convinced to give Howe and Newcastle one final season. The player then again made it clear he wanted out heading into the summer. Liverpool have made clear what they want, and that they’ll pay a British record fee.

Whether Newcastle can still get what they want out of all this after having failed multiple times to bring in a suitable replacement and with time running out seems increasingly difficult to answer—as does what happens to Isak as well as to Liverpool’s recruitment plans if they can’t.

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