Howe says relationship with Alexander Isak 'changed' after striker's strike ahead of £125m Liverpool move
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe says communication broke down after Isak refused to train, as the club manage injuries to summer signings
Eddie Howe has said his relationship with Alexander Isak “changed” after the Sweden striker went on strike this summer, the Newcastle manager revealing a breakdown in communication that preceded Isak’s £125 million move to Liverpool on deadline day.
Howe spoke for the first time since Isak’s transfer, saying the pair had previously enjoyed a strong working relationship but that things shifted when the forward made himself unavailable to train and play. Isak publicly criticised the club on Aug. 19, saying promises were broken and trust had been lost; Howe has denied ever promising the player he could leave.
"Alex and I always enjoyed a great relationship," Howe said. "I loved working with him and I hope he loved working with us. It was mutually beneficial. We helped him become the player that he in part is today. And he helped us as a team achieve some unbelievable milestones. He was part of a very successful team."
Howe added: "But to give you a bit more on that, the moment he went on strike our relationship did change. I think that was probably a turning point in our relationship. Communication became difficult from that point onwards. I won’t go into any more detail than that."
The transfer of Isak to Liverpool for what has been reported as a British-record fee brought an abrupt end to one of Newcastle’s most high-profile player-manager partnerships since the club’s recent rise. Howe has repeatedly rejected suggestions he guaranteed the striker an exit, and said he did not wish to elaborate further on the private discussions that followed Isak’s decision not to train with the squad.
The disruption comes as Newcastle contend with injury problems among the players brought in to fill Isak’s role. Forward Yoane Wissa, one of the summer recruits, will miss Saturday’s Premier League home match against Wolves after returning from international duty with DR Congo carrying a knee injury sustained during Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat by Senegal.
"He returned on Thursday and was immediately sent for a scan," Howe said. "There was hope he’d be OK to train on Friday and make his debut this weekend, but unfortunately he won't make this game. I saw him for the first time yesterday and he's feeling the effects of the injury sustained just before he came off (on Tuesday). We're going to have to see how he is. It's a knee injury but I don't know any more than that. We only saw him for the first time yesterday."
Howe also confirmed midfielder Jacob Ramsey will be sidelined for around seven matches with an ankle injury sustained since joining the club, a setback that leaves Newcastle short of options in the attacking midfield roles before the next international break. By contrast, new signing Nick Woltemade, who arrived from Stuttgart last month for a reported £69 million, is in line to make his debut.
Newcastle’s summer recruitment drive has been shaped by the departure of Isak and the need to reconfigure the attack. Howe emphasised the mutual achievements he and Isak shared during their time together, while declining to expand on the internal negotiations and exchanges that followed the striker’s withdrawal from training.
The Magpies host Wolves at St James’ Park on Saturday, with Howe expected to select from a reduced pool of fit forwards as he navigates the immediate aftermath of the high-profile exit and the club’s fresh injury concerns.
