{"id":88978,"date":"2025-08-10T05:26:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T05:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=88978"},"modified":"2025-08-10T05:26:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T05:26:12","slug":"everything-in-play-over-isaks-future-howe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=88978","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Everything in play\u2019 over Isak\u2019s future \u2013 Howe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>4 Minute, 20 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Eddie Howe says \u201ceverything is in play\u201d with Alexander Isak \u2013 but the Newcastle United manager needs players that \u201creally want to play\u201d for the club.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Isak has been training away from his team-mates after\u00a0Howe said it was \u201cclear at the moment that we can\u2019t involve him with the group\u201d.<\/p>\n

The striker was the subject of a \u00a3110m bid from Liverpool last week, which was rejected by Newcastle.<\/p>\n

Howe said he was not aware of the club\u2019s owners informing Isak he won\u2019t be sold after the Sweden international indicated that he\u00a0wished to explore his options.<\/p>\n

But the head coach stressed \u201cthere are discussions going on all the time that I\u2019m not party to\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everything is in play,\u201d Howe said after Newcastle\u2019s 2-0 defeat in a friendly against Atletico Madrid on Saturday. \u201cI\u2019ve said many times he is contracted to us. He is our player. The club make the decision on his future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what that will be. Of course I have a preferred outcome. I want the best and the strongest squad possible, but I also want players that really want to play for this football club.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isak missed Newcastle\u2019s pre-season tour of Asia with a \u201cminor thigh injury\u201d, but the 25-year-old went on to train alone at former club Real Sociedad.<\/p>\n

Howe previously warned no player could expect to act \u201cpoorly and train with the group as normal\u201d, but he made it clear that he would like Isak \u201cto be playing today\u201d.<\/p>\n

Howe was asked what would have to change for that to happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not for me to answer,\u201d he added. \u201cThat\u2019s for him to answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gordon \u2018should be OK\u2019 to face Villa<\/strong><\/p>\n

It fell to Anthony Gordon to lead the line in Isak\u2019s continued absence for Newcastle\u2019s final friendly of the summer against Atletico.<\/p>\n

And there were some anxious faces on the bench after the winger went down with an ankle issue late on.<\/p>\n

The England international had to come off in the closing stages and went straight down the tunnel for treatment with a club physio.<\/p>\n

But Howe said Gordon \u201cshould be OK\u201d for the opening day clash against Aston Villa.<\/p>\n

Although that will come as a relief to Newcastle, it was a timely reminder of how thin on the ground the club are in attack with William Osula and Sean Neave the only natural alternatives.<\/p>\n

Gordon pressed and harried throughout, but it took Newcastle until the 34th minute to have a shot on target after Kieran Trippier saw a free-kick parried by former Atletico team-mate Jan Oblak.<\/p>\n

It was as close as Newcastle came to scoring and Howe clearly needs another focal point up front \u2013 regardless of what happens with Isak.<\/p>\n

Callum Wilson may not have found the net in the Premier League last season, but the striker was a valued squad member, who has not been replaced since.<\/p>\n

Howe pushes for deals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Atletico do not have such concerns.<\/p>\n

Manager Diego Simeone had the luxury of naming Alexander Sorloth and Antoine Griezmann among his substitutes on Saturday. For context, the pair scored a combined 41 goals for the Spanish giants last season.<\/p>\n

Julian Alvarez lined up from the off and the former Manchester City striker went on to open the scoring, finishing a clinical breakaway in the 50th minute.<\/p>\n

Substitute Griezmann doubled the visitors\u2019 advantage with a clever flick midway through the second half.<\/p>\n

The presence of Griezmann and Co in front of a sellout crowd felt like a taster of the Champions League nights to come at St James\u2019 this season.<\/p>\n

The prospect of Simeone and Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall sharing the touchline on the big stage would certainly be box office.<\/p>\n

Newcastle have work to do to be equipped for those sorts of occasions, but Howe remains \u201chopeful\u201d of making new signings, with the club interested in AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw and Brentford striker Yoane Wissa.<\/p>\n

Elanga makes home debut<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has been a frustrating window for Newcastle, who have missed out on a host of targets up.<\/p>\n

But Saturday gave supporters a first sighting of Anthony Elanga in a black and white shirt on home soil.<\/p>\n

Although Newcastle have been knocked back by Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and James Trafford, Sweden international Elanga \u201cjust knew\u201d that a move to Tyneside was the \u201cright choice\u201d.<\/p>\n

So what will Elanga bring?<\/p>\n

Well, there were one or two glimpses of Elanga\u2019s one-v-one ability after Newcastle started to strategically get the ball out to the winger in the final 10 minutes of the first half.<\/p>\n

The crowd took a breath in expectation as Elanga raced past Atletico Madrid defender Matteo Ruggeri down the right only to see his attempted cross hooked away.<\/p>\n

Then, just a couple of minutes later, Elanga again had the beating of Ruggeri, but Oblak claimed the cross.<\/p>\n

Elanga will ultimately be judged on his end product, but it is not hard to see how the new arrival will slot into this side.<\/p>\n

Howe would certainly love to make one or two further additions before the season starts next week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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