It’s been a showdown some time in the making, and one that has reportedly divided the Newcastle United squad.
Alexander Isak has been absent from the Newcastle United squad for some time, with what was first reported as an injury concern has now descended into the striker openly pushing for a move away from the club.
And the striker’s actions haven’t gone unnoticed by Eddie Howe and the squad who have been on their tour of Asia.
With all parties now set to return to the North East ahead of the Sela Cup and opening fixture of the Premier League campaign against Aston Villa, Howe has sent a stark warning to last season’s top scorer…
Howe’s message for missing Isak
Speaking to The Mail’s Craig Hope after today’s 1-1 draw with Spurs, Howe has addressed the upcoming situation with Isak ahead of everyone’s return to the North East for further pre-season training this coming week.
With how openly Isak has been pushing for a move to Merseyside over the past fortnight, Howe has laid down the law and has told the striker not to expect too much of a welcome return to the side.
His message strikes the perfect note and is superb, strong man management from the boss, who said:
“You have to earn the right to train with us.”
“We are Newcastle United. The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad.
“You have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here.”
“No player can expect to act poorly and then train with the group as normal.”
It’s a bold move from Howe and one that drives home the message; no one is bigger than the club and he won’t openly accept the wrong approach to training, even if it’s our top player.
Either Isak puts his wishes to the side, acts professional and gets back to work, or he’ll be on the wrong side of a manager – and squad – who’ve done so much for him over the past three seasons.
Does Newcastle still want to sell Isak?
Howe has previously spoken optimistically that a solution could be found for Isak to remain with the team, and that any issues he has had could be ironed out and resolved before the start of the season.
But Craig Hope has revealed that there is a ‘growing acceptance’ within the club that the 25-year-old is indeed on his way out this window.
Though the club’s public stance remains the same: Isak is not for sale, and any sale would be on our terms in regards to the fee and instalments.
After the initial £110m bid from Liverpool was swiftly rejected, we seem to be expecting the Reds to return with a British record fee, but this of course must align with us bringing in a striker like Benjamin Sesko to directly replace the departing Isak.
I love to hear this from Eddie!!.
Yet again I think he’s dealt with this whole situation with total professionalism, dignity & respectfully.
Letting Isak know that if he does the right thing & turns back up for training, don’t expect an all is forgiven.
That to me is enough to know that Howe also feels Isak has been disrespectful & unprofessional – he’s let him, his teammates & the fans down.
Isak can turn this around, but he has to have his head on right – time will tell.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yes, well done Eddie. Who would expect anything other than the perfect response from our boss? The truth is, of course, Isak has sacked himself and if Liverpool don’t come up with the money NUFC can accept, he’s in a deep deep hole of his + his agent’s making. He can’t ever un-do the sh*t he’s put himself in. Push off, I say. Tragic.
davewallace(Quote)
Spot on Sharpy. Couldn’t agree ore.
Peaco(Quote)
Great stuff Eddie. The pure rat has acted disgracefully, none of us saw it coming from him even in modern football, but he has. I hope he has the most uncomfortable time possible until he gets his thirty pieces of silver from his new pals at the most arrogant club in football
East stand(Quote)
Izac can turn this around ? Can,but won’t ! He wants to go so arriverderci Alex. There are a number of ways to look at this situation. When Anthony Gordon and Elanga decided they wanted to join our football club they both had to make it known to Everton and Forest respectively in no uncertain terms,Gordon in particular.We were all happy for them to do so as NUFC were the beneficiaries. Now the boot is on the other foot,we regrettably just have to suck it up and make the best of a bad situation. Having said that my toys have only recently found their way back into the pram. Like many others on here I feel badly let down by Alexander Izac. I hoped and believed that he had bought into what our club is all about. But now we know that is not and perhaps never was the case. The modern game is regrettably driven by money and selfish greed and I doubt if he has even stopped to consider the affect his actions could potentially have on our football club. No matter what,it will only be short term. A replacement will be found and on we go regardless. At the risk of repeating myself,if he does sign for Liverpool in the next couple of weeks,our first home game of the season,on a bank holiday Monday 8 p m kickoff could be a “little bit lively”
Tommy Tantrum(Quote)
The club should state to Liverpool if he signs before you play us he can’t play in that game or no deal
Darren Bebb(Quote)
If we get a striker, keep Isak and play him in the reserves until his £150m valuation is reached, or he wants to play for us. We are supposedly the ruchest club in the world, so there is no need to sell. Also, any sale has to have a sell on clause.
Surely we can afford Guehi and Sesko.
Ed(Quote)
We would need to sell before the end of the PSR deadline next year. No urgency though.
PremAndUp(Quote)
To be fair neither Gordon or elanga faked injury, went awol abroad or refused to train \play with the team I don’t think? It got messy with Gordon but Everton did want the money for him and fans had attacked his car while he was leaving a match. The pure rat has taken it a few levels above those lads!
East stand(Quote)
All well and good letting Isak stew in the stiffs. – but we need his money. On the other hand, Liverpool know full well they are effectively the only possible buyers. Will we get anything like 150 million? We had reasonable cash but now we must add a top striker AND a back-up. Don’t see how that happens without selling our Swedish star.
Greggsboy(Quote)
Not a fan of conspiracy theories, but let’s face it, had the ‘big 6’ conspired to thoroughly stitch us up this window, it could not have gone any better than it has.
However, our top brass have been asleep at the wheel for 6 months. Thank God for Eddie Howe for keeping the ship afloat.
Greggsboy(Quote)
Newcastle have ONLY ONE option! SEll him! That is it!
If they refuse to let him train they are just giving him more ammunition to take to court, alongside their failure to honour a promise to renegotiate his contract! He will use the restriction of trade angle to get a bosnan transfer under which Newcastle will get NO TRANSFER FEE!
They are done, sell him and move on!
Stephen WHATLEY(Quote)
F***** Liverpool. Even if we sell, it would not be to them even at a lower price. Howe’s treatment with Ishak’s behavior is top notch.
J(Quote)
Difficult to have a balanced opinion at the moment because this is still so raw, but, Eddie has gone about this whole shitshow perfectly.
Admonished the player publicly so theres no ambiguity there .
Correctly, in my opinion, offered lsak a route back to re integration, albeit with a huge slice of humble pie.
No apologies asked for, that would be an obligation from lsak himself, and patience to regain any standing within the squad he may have had…
All well and good so far , but can there ever be harmony in the dressing room , l doubt it very much.
Best scenario:-
Any rotten apple in the barrel should be hastily got rid of for the benefit of the rest.
It does surprise me to some extent however, that now knowing the full make up of the player they seem intent on getting, Slott is still willing to add such upheaval to his own dressing room.
Pays yr money and takes yr choice.
Good luck to Liverpoop.
Personally, l wan rid ASAP.
Peter Henderson.(Quote)
Go and don’t comeback.
Stewed Swede never appeals. Tasteless.
Neil Johnson(Quote)
well done howe he has been brilliant isak does not deserve to train with the squad, needs to learn a lesson, idont think he had any injury thats my opinion anyway let him rot its awful what hes done
jen(Quote)
Your not alone thinking he has feigned injury. Myself and many others do too. The Dr’s that did the scan report apparently reported no sign of injury so all at NUFC like Eddie, his staff and Isaks team mates will know hes lied to them.
It would of been sad and probably a year early for us if Isak had been the man we thought he was and knocked on Eddie’s door at the end of the season and said I’m leaving this summer not next.
It would of give NUFC time to prepare and build for life without him. Isak and his agents timing of this greed driven behaviour is absolutely shameful considering Eddie and NUFC have transformed his career for the better and paid him handsomely whilst doing so.
It’s like he woke up and said right today I’m going to go from hero to zero and legend to traitor in 24 hours. He is obviously not the man we all thought he was and loved him for it.
I feel sorry for the thousands of kids whose parents have bought them the new kit with Isak 14 on and are
now are heart broken and won’t now want their prized shirt.
Absolutely selfish and treacherous behaviour that affects every single person who loves NUFC.
Spena10(Quote)