The Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has spoken publicly for the first time since Alexander Isak told the club that he wanted to go.
The Swedish striker did not travel through Singapore on the pre-season tour of the Magpies and led a thigh problem under the widespread speculation about his future.
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The Premier League champion Liverpool and the Saudi Club Al Hilal are both interested in Isak, who will be awarded to St. James’ Park on the head with a price tag of £ 150 million.
Talksport understands that the red are ready to break the British transfer record for the 25-year-old after having hit it for 116 million GBP at the beginning of this summer.
Howe was grilled by the media in front of Newcastle to Arsenal on Sunday – and did not give up hope of holding Isak.
“Of course there are things behind the scenes,” said the Toon boss.
Read more about Alexander Isak
“He will be aware that he is in the news every day, and I am sure that this is not easy for anyone in this situation. Talks between Alex and the Club or Alex and I will remain private for obvious reasons. We share a really good relationship with him.
“He was great for us and he is very popular in the changing room. We would love him to continue his trip to Newcastle. I definitely hope he stayed. And I said I said. And I said [last weekend] I was confident that he would stay. I don’t see anything my opinion will change at the moment, but it is football and who knows what the future could bring.
“Everything I would say in the wider picture is whatever happens for Newcastle. We are financially in a very strong position. We are determined to be successful. We are ambitious. We have a great season ahead of us. We have to add the squad and improve the journey in an upward journey.”
What else said about Isak?
Talksport understands that Isak has no more than a formal transfer request, although the striker has clarified that he is not ready to take a new contract into account.
Newcastle is not obliged to sell, but it is believed that the association would rather negotiate a deduction from the Premier League if its hand is forced.
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After the joy of qualifying for the Champions League in the next season, the Magpies have experienced a difficult summer transmission window that has missed numerous goals such as Hugo Ekikte and Joao Pedro who joined Liverpool and Chelsea.
The top goalkeeper -destination James Trafford has also deleted a move to St. James’ Park in favor of Manchester City.
Talksport understands that Newcastle has now opened talks with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. The striker of Brentford, Yoanne Wissa, also on her list.
And Howe insists that his site can still emerge from the summer window in a strong position.
“I wouldn’t put a time scale on it,” he said.
“I think with these situations it has to be right for the football club, and then everything is brought into the context underneath.
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“The club has to find a solution because you can’t have a player who doesn’t want to be there.
“If he wants to go, it has to be as good as possible in Newcastle.
“And someone has to pay the ransom, rightly justified on the Newcastle because they are the ones who have found it.
“We will see how big the balls of the people are and how big their checkbooks are. Write a check out and everything has to clarify.”
“But the club will make the right decision with all the information it has and ultimately try to drive the club in every way. Then it is up to us to make good decisions in the other direction and to improve the squad as much as possible. That is what we try to do, regardless of Alex ‘situation.
“But I think there is a broader picture here. There is an entire football club that has to make the decision. The property together with the board of directors, especially with the money that is connected in modern transfers. Of course, the manager has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board.”
When Howe was pushed to make an attempts to agree with a new contract with ISAK, Howe said:
“This may take a later date. I think, for the time being with the situation like it and the condition of the window in the sense that it quickly races towards the end of the window, from our point of view, there is still so much that could happen.”