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Tag: Howe

  • Isak transfer situation ‘far from ideal’ – Howe

    Isak transfer situation ‘far from ideal’ – Howe

    Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says the transfer situation surrounding striker Alexander Isak is “complex” and “far from ideal”.

    Newcastle turned down a £110m bid from Liverpool for Isak on Friday, with the Magpies valuing him at about £150m.

    The 25-year-old was left out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia with what the club described as a “minor” thigh issue.

    The Swede has since been training alone at former club Real Sociedad – something Howe said he found out about through the media.

    “I think from my situation, I am very much removed from everything that is happening back home,” Howe told a news conference, external on Saturday.

    “I was made aware there was a bid yesterday. That bid was turned down before I heard about it. There are people back in England dealing with the situation. 

    “I really don’t know what is going to happen next but, from our perspective, we still support Alex in every way and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.”

    Isak joined Newcastle in a £60m move from La Liga side Sociedad in 2022.

    He was the Magpies’ top scorer last season as the club won the Carabao Cup and ended their 70-year wait for domestic silverware.

    Howe said he is not in direct contact with the forward, adding: “I know where he is through the media, so I think from that perspective it’s difficult for me to go into any detail.

    “The situation is far from ideal. It is quite complex. I think that is all I have got to say.”

  • Newcastle yet to receive Isak offer – Howe

    Newcastle yet to receive Isak offer – Howe

    Newcastle have not yet received a bid for their top scorer, Alexander Isak, says manager Eddie Howe.

    The Sweden striker is exploring his options for a potential summer move and has not travelled on the team’s pre-season tour of Asia, although Newcastle initially said he has a “minor thigh injury”.

    A source has told BBC Sport that Liverpool are still interested in the 25-year-old, despite signing Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69m.

    The Magpies had maintained that Isak is not for sale and although Howe admits he is not in “full control” of the player’s future, he says that no offer has been submitted yet.

    “He is still our player. He’s contracted to us,” Howe said at a news conference in Seoul.

    Read Also: EPL: Isak scores twice as Newcastle sink Southampton

    “We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us.

    “My wish is that he stays, but that’s not in my full control. We have not received a formal offer for Alex, from any club.”

    Isak joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 in a deal worth about £60m and still has three years left on his contract.

    He has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for the Magpies, including 27 in all competitions last season.

    BBC

  • Newcastle can be world’s biggest club, says Howe

    Newcastle can be world’s biggest club, says Howe

    Howe’s side underlined their emergence as a genuine force on the Champions League stage with a 4-1 rout of Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday.

    It was significant statement of intent from Newcastle in their first Champions League campaign for 20 years.

    Revitalised by Howe’s astute management and the financial muscle of the club’s Saudi owners, Newcastle are developing into a global brand.

    Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has made no secret of his long-term ambition, saying in the recent documentary ‘We Are Newcastle United’ that he wants to establish the club as number one in the world.

    Howe, who spoke to Al-Rumayyan after the PSG game, acknowledges they are still some way from holding the power and prestige of clubs like PSG, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

    But asked on Friday if there was any reason why the Magpies could not be football’s biggest club, Howe said: “No, but we’re not the world’s number one club at the moment.

    Read Also: Minister wants sports legacies, history preserved

    “We’ve got to try to work towards that, and these things take time. There is no magic wand. Being smart, making good decisions and working hard every day.

    “If that is the ultimate aim, then we will try our best to try and get that.

    “We have to be calm and recognise we are in the early stages of the season. We’ve got a lot to prove before we can say anything about what we’ve done.

    “We’ve just put ourselves in a good position in our Champions League group and we are still formulating our Premier League position.”

    Saturday is the two-year anniversary of the Saudi takeover from unpopular former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.

    The Tyneside club has gone from a laughing stock to a Premier League force in just 24 months, although they currently sit eighth in the table after an inconsistent start to the season.