Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has delivered a clear warning to the club's hierarchy over Alexander Isak's potential departure. The Swedish striker is pushing for a move to Liverpool, but Howe insists the club cannot allow the sale without securing a replacement first.
Liverpool's £110m bid for Isak was rejected by Newcastle earlier this month. The 25-year-old, who scored 23 Premier League goals last season, has made his desire to leave St James' Park clear and missed Newcastle's recent fixtures citing injury concerns.
Transfer deadline pressure
With the transfer window closing on 1 September, Newcastle face a challenging eight-day period. The club has struggled to identify suitable replacements after missing out on several targets including Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, and Benjamin Sesko, who joined Manchester United for £73m.
Howe said: "I don't think the club will allow that situation to happen. We certainly can't go through the season with no recognised striker at the football club - and that's no disrespect to Will Osula." The manager emphasised that Isak remains their only striker with proven Premier League experience.
Alternative options emerge
The Newcastle boss has considered Anthony Gordon as a potential tactical solution. Gordon previously played as a central striker for England and could fill the role temporarily if needed.
"The beauty of Anthony when we signed him was he can play right, left and potentially down the middle," Howe explained. "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."
However, complications continue to mount. Chronicle Live reveals that Bayer Leverkusen are interested in a loan deal for Will Osula, potentially further reducing Newcastle's striking options. The i reports that Newcastle's private valuation of Isak potentially exceeds £150m, creating a significant gap with Liverpool's current offer.
Sources used: "Daily Star", "Liverpool Echo", "Chronicle Live", "The i" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
