Alexander Isak: Newcastle striker expected to stay with Magpies by Eddie Howe despite Liverpool, Arsenal transfer interest | Football News

Eddie Howe says he is “confident” that Alexander Isak will always be a Newcastle player at the end of the transfer window, but says he sent the “irreplaceable” striker to the house before the friendly loss against Celtic because of the accent put on the future of the Swedish.

Newcastle clearly indicated that Isak was not for sale this week when Liverpool intensified their interest in the attacker. The Magpies appreciate Isak, who scored 23 goals in the Premier League last season, at least 150 million pounds.

Arsenal was another club watching Isak this summer, but they are now ending on an agreement for Viktor Gyoking in Sporting.

“It was my decision,” said Howe to refer to Isak. The attacker should not play in the game – which turned out to be a 4-0 beat by Celtic – because Newcastle manages his minutes at this early stage of the pre -season.

“He traveled to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home because of the speculation around him.

“The last thing he wanted was to be seated in the stand by looking – it was not fair for him. But I am convinced that he will be a Newcastle player at the end of the window.”

Howe on Isak and Jelinton Fitness “irreplaceable” and Jelinton

Asked about Isak’s importance for this Newcastle team, Howe agreed that he was “irreplaceable”.

“We have some of these players who are irreplaceable,” he said. “Your best players are so difficult to find, so difficult to recruit and so difficult to develop. So when you have them, you have to cherish them. Of course, we are desperate to keep it as part of our team.”

Howe also said that he had spoken to Isak about his future, but insists that the attacker remains focused on Newcastle performances.

“Yes, I had discussions with him, but it’s not abnormal,” said Howe. “I respect a player’s career and how much it’s short. Alex was really good, he is very well trained and I realize that there will be noise around him.”

On JelintonWho was also absent from the match team but in the Celtic stands, Howe said: “The two players [Joelinton and Isak] are in good shape. But we just felt that they were not ready to play.

“Everyone, during the pre-season, goes through different challenges. Joe returns from a long injury, so we must make sure that when he is presented, he is ready.”

Howe: we will be better for Celtic defeat – but a lot of work to do

By thinking about performance and defeat against Celtic, Howe was relaxed with the place where his Newcastle team is, although the goals conceded was poor and there is a lot of work to do to get up to date for the new season.

“We take a charge,” he told the club’s media. “It was a very good test for us. The pre-season is designed to really stretch us. We know that we have a very difficult season to come with all the competitions in which we are.

“It was a test that may have come a little too early for us. We had a long week in Austria. No excuse, by fact, but the guys entered the game slightly jaded. But it was an excellent training for us. Celtic played very well.

“I thought we had played well in phases, we created chances and should have scored a few goals. Overall, I think the team will be better for the game.

“They are ahead of us in terms of fitness. It is a useful lesson for us to learn. We generally do this to other teams. The power of our fitness is generally manifested in our performances. We were a little at the reception, it was not a reactive game where we were constantly subject to the pressure that we had just defended the poor moments.

“We have a lot of work to do. We know it. We are in the early stages of pre-season.”

Analysis: The loss of Newcastle shows the need for signatures

Keith Downie of Sky Sports News in Parkhead:

“Newcastle has learned a little lesson a little. I know that Celtic is ahead in terms of pre -season preparation – they returned for a few weeks – but there was a gulf between the teams.

“Yes, Newcastle lacks people like Isak, Jelinton, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, but Celtic was in front of the streets.

“Newcastle fans will think that they have to add more signatures – they have only added to Elaga this summer, but on this watch, they will need more.”