No Isak, no issue for Eddie Howe and Newcastle players despite transfer saga
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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe (left) and captain Bruno Guimaraes say the squad are focused on their pre-season and a game against Arsenal at the National Stadium on July 27.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- Newcastle's Isak is absent due to injury, fuelling rumours of a potential £120 million transfer, possibly to Liverpool, but Howe insists that only a decision that's "right for the club" will be made.
- Despite Isak's situation, Howe and Guimaraes affirm the team's focus and ambition, aiming to improve the squad with quality additions, not just numbers.
- Howe acknowledges Arsenal's advantage in Singapore due to acclimatisation, but prioritises readiness for the Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Aug 16.
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SINGAPORE – In his first 24 hours here, Newcastle United coach Eddie Howe learnt just how unpredictable Singapore’s weather can get.
The sun was blazing when his team arrived on July 25, but the heavens opened, briefly, just before a press conference at the team’s Pan Pacific base on July 26.
By now, though, Howe is adept at taking unexpected twists in his stride, as shown by his deftness at dealing with questions fired at him regarding star striker Alexander Isak.
Isak is not with the Newcastle squad
The Swede, who scored 23 league goals in 34 games last season, stayed behind in England to nurse a thigh injury, his club said. But rumours in the UK media linking him with a big-money move away – more pointedly, to league champions Liverpool – have gathered intensity over the last 48 hours.
More than half the questions in the 15-minute press conference were about Isak.
Howe admitted that “of course, there’s things going on behind the scenes”, but also said that conversations between the player and the club would remain private.
He added: “We do share a really good relationship with him. He’s been magnificent for us for as long as he’s joined.
“He’s very popular in the dressing room, as I’ve said before. We’d love him to continue his journey at Newcastle and I think all I would say on the broader picture is whatever happens has to be right for (the club).”
He noted that the club are in a “very strong position financially”, suggesting that any deal struck for Isak would be around the British transfer record fee of £120 million (S$207 million) that has been bandied about.
Newcastle are not holding any talks on extending or improving Isak’s contract, which still has three years to run, “with the situation as it is”, added Howe.
Despite the noise surrounding their best player, the 47-year-old Englishman insisted his players in Singapore are not distracted and said that the “feeling during this pre-season has been as good as any other”.
Echoing his manager’s sentiment, captain Bruno Guimaraes said: “Of course (Isak) is a top player for us and you can’t find someone who can score 20 goals in the Premier League (easily), but it’s not a distraction for us.
“We are focused on getting sharp as soon as possible because it’s going to be a very tough season ahead for us.”
Regardless of Isak’s situation, additions to the squad are vital, stressed Howe, who said the club are “actively in the market” and looking at “multiple players across multiple positions”.
Newcastle have made only one major signing this summer in winger Anthony Elanga, who moved from Nottingham Forest in a £55 million deal. They have also signed promising talents Park Seung-soo and Antonio Cordero, both 18, who are seen as two for the future.
Asked how many additions he would ideally like to have, Howe said: “It’s not about numbers, it’s about quality… Can we find players of the quality that can make our team better? If they don’t make the team better or the squad better, then we won’t sign them.”
Brazil international Guimaraes remains bullish of Newcastle’s chances of building on last season’s achievements, with the team ending a 70-year trophy drought when they beat Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley in March.
They went on to finish fifth in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons.
“For me, it’s not enough, I want more,” he said. “If I lose my ambition I can go home to Brazil and chill.
“It’s not what I’m looking for now. I (want) to keep improving, keep winning, and keep making history for this club.”
Added Howe: “Once you experience that feeling of winning… you want it again as quickly as possible.
“There’s a lot of ambition within the team. You can see from training; it’s been very competitive. The lads are very driven to do well, so I see good signs. But obviously, as I said earlier, there’s still some work to do with (strengthening) the squad.”
There was a moment of levity during the press conference when Howe was asked about whether his team are prepared for the challenge Arsenal, last season’s EPL runners-up, will present in Singapore. The Gunners beat AC Milan 1-0 in a friendly at the National Stadium on July 23.
He said: “Uhm… My stock answer should be ‘yes’. But, because I saw the players training today...”
As his voiced trailed off, he exchanged a knowing glance with Guimaraes, and both of them burst out laughing.
He said: “There was a bit of fatigue in the training today. The heat was one thing, but I think the players were still adjusting to time zones.
“So I think a definite advantage for Arsenal tomorrow having been here for much longer than we have.
“But it’s a pre-season game, so we just want to get certain bits from the game… We’re still I think we’re building towards our best levels.
“The most important thing is how we play against Aston Villa (in the EPL season opener on Aug 16), not these games. But we need to get something out of them.”
