Eddie Howe full on press conference – Alexander Isak, Sesko, Liverpool, Spain, Son and Spurs… | OneFootball

Eddie Howe has given his latest press conference.

Saturday night (Saturday morning in the UK) in Seoul (official NUFC pop up shop pictured above), ahead of the friendly against Tottenham.

Whilst that friendly at the Seoul World Cup Stadium was covered…

No surprise to see this latest Eddie Howe press conference heavily weighted to other matters.

Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko, Liverpool and the transfer window in general.

Eddie Howe pre-Tottenham press conference ahead of tomorrow’s friendly in Seoul – 2 August 2025:

“It should be a really good game.

“Two Premier League teams, two high quality teams on show.

“We are hoping to build up performance levels as we go through pre-season.

“So we are hoping for a really good performance.”

Eddie Howe on the injury Joe Willock picked up towards the end of Wednesday’s match against the Team K-League All Stars:

“It’s good news on Joe.

“We initially feared he could have injured part of his Achilles, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

“But it looks like he’s got a problem with a muscle in the calf.

“So we feel the injury isn’t as serious as maybe first thought, which is great news for Joe, but it’s still going to keep him out for a number of weeks.

“How many we’re not sure, but early diagnosis is looking four to six, which, although being a blow, is probably much better than the initial thought.

So some positive news on Joe.”

Eddie Howe on Son Heung-min, who has announced that he wants to leave Tottenham and is set to play probably his final match for Spurs on Sunday:

“I think he’s one of the legends of the Premier League.

“We’ve come up against him many times and I thought he was fantastic – his pace, his dribbling ability, his desire to score goals. I thought he was always one of the best players we played against every season.

“The biggest test, I think, for a player’s ability is consistency and longevity, and he’s been able to do that consistently every year.

“I’ve never spent time with him, but he seemed like an incredible professional and incredible person. So it will be a really great moment to share this last game.”

Eddie Howe asked about the media claims on Friday regarding a £110m bid from Liverpool for Alexander Isak:

“I was made aware that there was a bid (for Alexander Isak from Liverpool) yesterday (Friday), that was turned down almost before I even heard about it.

“There are people back in England dealing with the situation.

“I am very much removed from anything that’s happening back home.

“I really don’t know what’s going to happen next.

“But from our perspective, we still support Alex in every way.

“My wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt (this coming season).”

Eddie Howe asked if he was upset with Liverpool for unsettling Alexander Isak:

“It’s difficult because you don’t know what is going to happen.

“There may be all sorts of talk, all sorts of hypothetical situations, but then you are dealing with reality.

“The reality is that we had that bid from Liverpool yesterday, that was turned down.

“In terms of trying to upset players?

“From my perspective, I can only talk about us.

“We try to do things the right way.

“Signing players is always complex and we just try to do what we think is right.

“I can’t talk about other clubs…

“That is not for me to say.”

Eddie Howe asked about the media reports that Alexander Isak is doing fitness work in San Sebastian, at Real Sociedad’s training ground and whether he has permission to be in Spain doing this:

“I know where he is, really, through the media.

“From that perspective, it is difficult for me to go into any kind of detail.

“The situation is far from ideal and quite complex.”

Eddie Howe asked if it was true that Newcastle United are bidding to buy Benjamin Sesko (Saturday morning has seen media in Slovenia claim that Newcastle have succeeded in convincing the striker to sign for United ahead of Man U):

“I’m sorry to sound like a broken record…

“I’m aware of what is happening, but I am not dealing with it…

“I woke up today and had two training sessions, then came straight here (to the press conference).

“I am finding out what’s happening after it’s happened.

“So we will try to bring the best players to this football club.

“I will make that clear.

“However, I can’t talk about individual targets.”

Eddie Howe asked whether there could be a potential end result where Newcastle United sign Benjamin Sesko AND keep Alexander Isak:

“We are looking at the best (outcome) we can get (in this summer transfer window).

“I see all situations open and available to us.

“I feel that’s the only way we are going to get where we want to go.

” That is by maximising quality over quantity.

“That is the way it has always been.

“It is the way we work.

“We try to improve…which we have done pretty well to this point.

“It has been a challenging summer.

“We have missed out on loads of different targets for different reasons.