Newcastle sees $68M transfer bid rejected as Alexander Isak wait continues

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But a public statement from the North East club last week suggested the conditions it required for the sale of the Swede would not be met before the transfer deadline, which comes in just seven days.

In part, those conditions are likely to include Newcastle signing a suitable replacement for Isak, which has so far proven impossible.

The club has also been chasing Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, so far unsuccessfully.

"I don’t think the club will allow that situation to happen," Eddie Howe said when asked about the prospect of not bringing in at least one more attacker before the window closes.

"I think he’s doing really well and he’s progressing really well, but he’s got limited experience in the Premier League, although I’m really happy with his career progression.

"But Alex at the moment would be the only striker we have with Premier League history of goals and appearances and starts, so we can’t leave ourselves in that position."

Anthony Gordon filled in at number nine last weekend against Aston Villa, and the England ace is expected to play there again when Newcastle hosts Liverpool today.

"He’s an attacker and he’s a very good attacker," Howe said.

I don’t think anyone can fill Alex’s boots and Anthony will know that himself

He’s not trying to be Alex, he’s got to be himself.

"I think if he’d scored against Aston Villa, you’d go, ‘that’s the perfect number nine performance’

I think he had seven shots in the game, he looked a threat, he got a man sent off.

"He was using his qualities, which are his pace and his dribbling skills, so I thought it was a really good performance from him