Isak Expected to Stay with Newcastle Despite Transfer Rumors

Newcastle United’s manager, Eddie Howe, conveyed his assurance on Saturday that key striker Alexander Isak is expected to remain with the team and be available for the commencement of the 2025-26 season. This statement comes despite the Swedish international’s absence from their 4-0 pre-season loss against Celtic, which fueled speculation about a potential transfer.

Earlier in the week, reports suggested that Isak might be considering a move to Liverpool. Last season, the forward achieved 23 Premier League goals, placing him second only to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the Golden Boot race.

Isak, who has represented Sweden in 52 international matches, joined Newcastle in 2022 from Real Sociedad, a La Liga team. Since joining the Magpies, he has scored 62 goals in 109 games across all competitions.

Following Saturday’s friendly match, Howe clarified that he chose to leave the striker out of the squad due to the increasing transfer speculation. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that Isak would stay.

“It was my decision. He accompanied us back to Glasgow, but I opted to send him home because of the speculation surrounding him.

“The last thing he needed was to be sitting in the stands watching. That wouldn’t have been fair to him. However, I am confident that he will still be a Newcastle player when the transfer window closes,” Howe stated.

Howe acknowledged that he couldn’t provide complete certainty regarding the future of any player but emphasized Isak’s contentment at the club.

“It’s challenging to offer 100 percent clarity on any player, but Alex is happy here. He has affection for the club, the staff, the players, and the team. I’m confident that he’ll be with us when the season begins,” he added.

He also mentioned having private discussions with Isak, recognizing the realities of professional football careers.

“Yes, I’ve spoken with him; that’s not unusual. I appreciate the limited duration of a player’s career. But Alex has been outstanding. He’s trained well, and we are aware that there will be noise surrounding him,” he concluded.