Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has had to address the attitude of Alexander Isak after the club embarked on their pre-season tour without him as he readies to return to training
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe claimed that players can’t “expect to act poorly and train” as the squad prepare to head home and potentially reunite with Alexander Isak, who has been pushing for a move away from the club.
The Swede expressed a desire to look elsewhere and Liverpool have now entered the race to sign him, seeing their opening bid rejected. Isak did not head to Asia to take part in Newcastle’s pre-season games due to injury but was seen training solo at former club Real Sociedad – something the club had no idea about.
Newcastle are readying to return to the UK with their hierarchy having to deal with the transfer saga surrounding their best player, who scored a career high 27 times last term. Howe has been keen to insist that the 25-year-old cannot be excused for his recent antics.
He was quizzed on whether Isak would be allowed to train with the squad this week and told the Daily Mail: “You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United. The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad – you have to act in the right way.
“So that is also at play here. We will make sure that any player does that to earn the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.”
READ MORE: Eddie Howe casts new light on Alexander Isak’s Liverpool transfer with fresh admissionREAD MORE: Newcastle identify Benjamin Sesko transfer alternative as Man Utd hold talks with striker
The Newcastle boss confessed that he had not spoken to Isak since he returned to the north east at the weekend, but he does expect him to report for training later this week. “Of course I’d like him to be (there), but whether he will I don’t know at this moment in time,” added Howe. “We have been here with the time difference, preparing for training and for games. Other people have been dealing with that situation back at home.”
This is the first time during the Saudi-era at St James’ Park that one of their leading lights has pushed for the exit door. Newcastle are open to Isak’s sale but only once their £150million asking price is met and they have a replacement ready to come in.
The opening offer from Liverpool saw them table £110m, which was knocked back. In an effort to fill the sizeable void that Isak would leave Newcastle are eyeing RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who is considered to be one of Europe’s best young strikers.
The German side rejected an opening offer from Newcastle with Manchester United also keen on the Slovenian. The Magpies have also got their eyes on Brentford’s 28-year-old forward Yoane Wissa, who is keen to seek a new challenge away from west London.
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