Howe confident of Newcastle striker signing before window shuts – and leaves door open for Isak return | OneFootball

Eddie Howe says he remains confident that Newcastle will bring in a striker before the transfer window shuts after confirming that Alexander Isak would once again miss out against Liverpool on Monday.

Isak has publicly stated his desire to leave Newcastle this summer, with the Magpies’ next opponents Liverpool keen on signing him.

And Howe admits he is disappointed by the way the situation has played out.

“I don’t think it had to be this way,” he said.

“It’s disappointing I am having to speak about it every press conference at length and it’s taking away form the football. We’ve got Liverpool. That’s going to be a tougher game without any other distraction.

“The players have done very well to blank it all out but it is there in the background and it’s not helping us. It is regrettable we’re in this situation.

“I’m not a fortune teller, I’ve got no way of knowing what will happen in terms of getting some finality on the situation.

“The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United and it will do that in every situation. I think it’s a lose-lose situation for us to a degree as I don’t think we can come out of this winning.

“It’s a difficult situation to manage in the sense of what he’s contributed to the football club and how professional he has been. It’s been an unfortunate couple of months that look like it’s coming to an end soon.”

Howe, however, is leaving the door open for Isak to return to the squad.

“I’ve gone on that journey with Alex so I don’t think we have any issues on a footballing side at all,” he said. “I hope I can work with him again and get him back to his very best.”

Newcastle have also lost striker Callum Wilson this summer, who has joined West Ham on a free transfer, and Howe is hopeful that the club will bring in a striker regardless of whether Isak stays.

“We are working hard on incomings, I wouldn’t say we are close,” he said. “We still have a little bit of time but that time will go really quickly.

“I think the squad is in a good place but we are still working on replacing Callum Wilson and that is the big area we are focusing on.”