Eddie Howe, the head coach of Newcastle United, is addressing the club’s pressing need for new signings as speculation surrounding Alexander Isak intensifies. Now, Liverpool have seemingly become the unlikely new destination for Isak this summer. The club is working hard behind the scenes to ascertain that player’s availability. Newcastle have since cancelled Isak’s involvement in the club’s forthcoming Asia tour. This decision now calls into question whether the Eagles’ future with the quarterback goes beyond a few months.
Naturally, Isak was missing from Newcastle’s pre-season squad that’s heading to Singapore and South Korea. The club first blamed his absence on a last-minute “thigh strain.” Unfortunately for the Magpies, reports this week suggest that Isak wants to test the waters elsewhere this summer. His exclusion from the lineup comes right on the back of Newcastle’s poor showing in a 4-0 loss to Celtic.
Transfer Speculation Surrounding Isak
The continued handwringing over Isak exposes a deeper problem for Newcastle. Either way, they have very real work to do in order to strengthen their squad before the new season begins. Howe acknowledged the situation, stating, “Of course, we’re not deluded. We know that we need to bring players in, we’ve known that for a long time.”
While Newcastle continue to figure things out during this uncertain time, the club is dropping out on the hunt for other transfer targets. Hugo Ekitike was their major target they wanted to sign but lost out on to Liverpool. Furthermore, James Trafford’s transfer dreams were ended when he chose to join Manchester City.
Pursuing New Targets
Given Newcastle’s struggles, the club has set its sights elsewhere as potential signings. Yoane Wissa, the striker who’s now with Brentford, was another player Newcastle were very much going after. Brentford have been tough but fair in turning down three offers from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle for Wissa. That’s 19 bids at or above £25 million in this Premier League transfer window alone.
Wissa’s contract state of affairs adds a wrinkle to the negotiations. He only has one year remaining on his contract, but Brentford does have an option for a second year. The club’s refusal to accept bids indicates they are interested in holding on to Wissa for another season.
Looking Ahead
As the transfer window progresses, Newcastle remains focused on bolstering its squad while dealing with the uncertainty surrounding key players like Isak. Howe has expressed optimism about the situation, saying, “At the tail end of last season, we did all the work we wanted. It’s been a challenging window; let’s see what we can do.”
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