Eddie Howe has admitted that the Alexander Isak situation is “far from ideal”, but still hopes to see the unsettled player back in a Newcastle shirt after confirming the club rejected an offer from Liverpool.
The 25-year-old Swede, one of the hottest properties in world football, has had his head turned by the Premier League champions’ interest this summer. Isak did not travel to Asia for Newcastle’s pre-season tour due to what the club called a “minor thigh injury”, only for his unhappiness to emerge along with the fact he is training at his former club Real Sociedad.
On Friday, Liverpool submitted a £110m bid but, after that was turned down, have intimated they do not intend to submit a second offer in this transfer window.
“I think from my situation, I am very much removed from everything that is happening back home,” Howe said, as reported by The Athletic. “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.”
Newcastle head back from Asia after Sunday’s friendly against Tottenham in Seoul, where Howe revealed he learned Isak was training in Spain through the media.
“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 said. “The situation is far from ideal. It is quite complex. I think that is all I have got to say.”