The door is well and truly open but Alexander Isak needs to decide what he wants to do – Eddie Howe update | OneFootball

Eddie Howe has been talking again about Alexander Isak on Saturday.

With chances created but not taken at Villa Park as United drew 0-0.

No surprise to see Eddie Howe quizzed yet again on where we are at with the Alexander Isak situation, with only 16 days to go until the transfer window closes.

Eddie Howe when asked about Isak’s future; “The door is well and truly open but Alexander Isak needs to decide what he wants to do. We’d like a resolution, we need that clarity. I’m not in control of it, but only one person is. I’ve made my stance pretty clear.”

In very difficult circumstances, Eddie Howe playing a blinder.

Keeping focus with the players on the pitch BUT at the same time keeping the door open for Alexander Isak. Absolutely nothing to be gained in this current situation by ruling out the possibility of Isak playing again for United.

Indeed, the way Liverpool have carried on, with only one embarrassing offer of £110m and other than that just pushing nonsense through the media, it is difficult (impossible) to see anything other than Alexander Isak still at NUFC throughout this 2025/26 season. Even if Newcastle did get a proper offer from Liverpool, who could they go after? Yoane Wissa expected to come in very soon but he is Callum Wilson’s replacement.

It looks a case of Alexander Isak needing to realise all of this ASAP and then ask Eddie Howe what he needs to do to start the journey back into this Newcastle United team.

Eddie Howe asked if Alexander Isak will now be fined by Newcastle United, having allegedly made himself unavailable for the Villa match:

“Other people are dealing with that issue.

“I am concentrating on the team”

As for the outcome of the match, Eddie Howe asked the ‘what if’ Alexander Isak had been playing?:

“It is easy to say (we would have won with Alexander Isak) but there is no way of knowing that’s the case.

“Of course though we are going to miss him”

Eddie Howe on the chants from the travelling Newcastle United fans aimed at Alexander Isak after the match, such as ‘There’s only one greedy bas..rd’:

“Whatever happens (with Alexander Isak), our supporters acted really well today, because they supported the team when we were playing.

“They have always done that unbelievably well.

“If they want to say something afterwards, they are free to do that”

Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Saturday 16 August 2025 12.30pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Villa

Konsa red card 66

(Stats in brackets are at half-time)

Possession was Newcastle 59% (58%) Villa 41% (42%)

Total shots were Newcastle 16 (8) Villa 3 (0)

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 (2) Villa 3 (0)

Corners were Newcastle 6 (3) Villa 3 (2)

Touches in the box Newcastle 33 (18) Villa 14 (5)

Newcastle team v Aston Villa:

Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton (Miley 83), Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Osula 90), Gordon, Elanga (Jacob Murphy 78)

Unused subs:

Ramsdale, Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Krafth, Seung-soo

(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after Aston Villa 0-0…Read HERE)

(Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Match Report – United’s demise much exaggerated as by far the better team – It ends Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Read HERE)

Saturday 16 August – Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0

Monday 25 August – Newcastle v Liverpool (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 30 August – Leeds v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 13 September – Newcastle v Wolves (3pm)