Eddie Howe has confirmed he sent Alexander Isak home before Newcastle United’s pre-season loss to Celtic.
Celtic thrashed Newcastle United 4-0 on Saturday as pre-season started in miserable fashion for Eddie Howe.
While Newcastle were further behind Celtic in their preparations for the season ahead, it was still disappointing to see them beaten so heavily given all that’s gone on this summer.
Howe has been afforded only one signing so far this summer in the form of Anthony Elanga. The other deals the club have pursued are yet to reach any positive conclusions.
All the more concerning is the fact Isak missed Newcastle’s loss to Celtic. While the club want to keep the striker, Liverpool want to sign Isak.
After the game, Howe admitted he had sent the striker home from Glasgow.
Eddie Howe confirms Newcastle United want to keep Alexander Isak
Howe confirmed it was his decision to send Isak home from Glasgow. Though the Sweden international wasn’t scheduled to play in the game as the club looked to manage his minutes, Howe confirmed he didn’t want to put Isak in a position where he’s sat in the stands amid so much speculation on his future.
“It was my decision,” he said.
“He travelled back to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him. But I’m confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window.”
The Newcastle United manager was also asked whether or not Isak would join the rest of the squad for their pre-season tour of Asia, which starts next week.
Howe confirmed he expected Isak to join the squad on that tour.
“Yeah, absolutely,” he said. “He’s part of our squad. At this moment in time, I expect him to come.”
Alexander Isak market value as Liverpool rumours swirl
Newcastle value Isak at more than £150million, so any interested club would have to break Premier League records to sign him.
The forward still has three years on his contract, which puts the club in a strong position. Still, the fact he’s been left out of the Celtic game and wasn’t even at the stadium hardly points to a club ignoring all the speculation.
There has always been a confidence amongst supporters that Isak would stay, such has been the strength of the club’s messaging. However, this really does look like an unwelcome development.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
