Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has reiterated the club’s stance on star striker Alexander Isak, insisting the Swedish-Eritrean forward remains an integral part of his plans amid growing transfer speculation.
The 25-year-old, whose roots trace back to Eritrea, has recently been linked with a potential move to Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Over the weekend, he was left out of Newcastle’s friendly defeat to Celtic in Glasgow due to what Howe described as transfer distractions.
Despite the absence, the club is adamant that Isak is not on the market and confirmed he will join the team for their upcoming preseason tour in the Far East.
“Yes, absolutely. He’s part of our squad,” Howe said when asked if Isak would travel for the Asia tour. “At this moment in time, I expect him to come.”
While Howe acknowledged the unpredictable nature of football transfers, he was clear about the club’s position.
“The desire from everybody to keep him is as strong as it could be,” he stressed. “We love him as a player and a person and want him to stay – and that is right through the club. He’s an outstanding talent and a player we cherish.”
Addressing the decision to leave Isak out of the Celtic match, Howe added: “I don’t think it’s easy for any player to be under that scrutiny… I just want him to focus on himself and his training and being ready for next week.”
Isak, who scored 23 Premier League goals last season, has three years remaining on his current contract. With the Magpies preparing to face Arsenal in Singapore, all eyes will be on whether the striker boards the flight as Newcastle seek to put the speculation to rest.
