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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has admitted that wantaway striker Alexander Isak, for whom Liverpool has already seen one transfer offer turned down, impacted morale among the rest of his teammates earlier this summer.

To miss him from your squad leaves a huge gap."

Howe says the situation is "ongoing" but has already ruled Isak out of Newcastle's first match of the new season, against Aston Villa.



Eddie Howe and Alexander Isak.

We have moved forward and I've got to say the atmosphere of the group has been very good in the last couple of weeks."

So far, Newcastle has been unwilling to change its hard stance on not losing Isak, despite the player's desire to leave and move to Anfield.

Liverpool knows that it would take an even bigger offer to sign him than it splashed on Florian Wirtz, but Newcastle has so far been unable to bring in a new striker despite targeting the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Newcastle went into the transfer window with no CEO or sporting director, with Howe describing that as being "not ideal".

The Magpies have signed Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw and are closing in on a deal for Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, but the main saga — Isak — continues to rumble on.

Liverpool.com says: Isak, if Newcastle does eventually let him leave, should have been allowed to depart at the start of the summer

As it is, if Newcastle does relent, then it will look weak
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