Eddie Howe makes major Alexander Isak admission as Newcastle scramble amid PSR concerns

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Eddie Howe reacts at full-time following the team's defeat in the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park on August 25, 2025(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Eddie Howe has called for clarity over Alexander Isak’s future after admitting he has “no idea” where Newcastle United now stand with the Liverpool transfer target.

Isak met with Newcastle co-owner Jamie Reuben and a delegation from the club’s owners the Public Investment Fund on Monday with the player continuing to train away from the Magpies’ first team.

Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is the governor of PIF, was in attendance at St James Park later in the evening to watch Liverpool secure a dramatic 3-2 Premier League win.



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The Reds saw a £110million offer for Isak rejected at the start of the month and decided not to make another bid unless the landscape changed, which it has considerably over the last week.

But Howe admits he is being left in the dark over what will happen with Isak as the clock ticks down on the transfer deadline on September 1.

“I’ve not been party to talks on this for a long time now,” he said.

“I’ve been preparing the team and giving my energy to players who want to play for Newcastle.

That’s where my energy is best served.

“I have no idea where that (Isak) stands at this second.

But that said the team functioned well and the performance doesn’t happen without every part of the team functioning well.”

Newcastle won’t entertain the sale of Isak unless they recruit two new forwards, and continue to be frustrated in their attempts to sign Yoane Wisse of Brentford and have seen an offer rejected for Wolves’ forward Jorgan Strand Larsen.

“Your names at the beginning and end of window are always very different as a lot of player have moved,” said Howe.

“That’s always the case if you are still active in the market like we are.

Osula came on and scored a goal so hopefully he can kick on.”

With Isak absent, Newcastle came from 2-0 down to level despite a red card for Anthony Gordon on the stroke of half-time for a challenge on Virgil van Dijk, only for 16-year-old Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha to score an injury-time winner on his Premier League debut.

Of the dismissal, Howe said: “I’ve seen it once but was in a bit of a rush as the game was ongoing.

We conceded a poor goal, first time in the game where we are not aggressive enough and second half was very different, a very different plan and really well executed by the players.