Howe reveals when relationship with Isak broke down after Newcastle exit

EDDIE HOWE has revealed his relationship with Alexander Isak broke down after the striker went on strike to force a Newcastle exit.

The pair worked together for three years after the Swede arrived at St.James' Park in the summer of 2022.

1 Eddie Howe revealed when his relationship with Alexander Isak broke down Credit: PA

Isak scored 62 goals in 109 games for the Magpies, including in their Carabao Cup final triumph over Liverpool in March.

But after the Reds came knocking in the summer Isak decided he wanted to leave, and went on strike to force a move.

He trained away from his team-mates, including at his former team Real Sociedad as Newcastle went on a pre-season tour.

Howe has admitted their relationship changed after that point, revealing communication became more difficult.

He said: "Alex and I always enjoyed a great relationship.

"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.

"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."

Isak, 25, could make his Liverpool debut this weekend against Burnley, though he is lacking match fitness so could be named on the bench.

By Martin Lipton

ARNE Slot claims new recruit Alexander Isak is ”the best striker in the world” - but will still make him wait for his Liverpool debut.

And the Reds boss signalled he may go back in for England star Marc Guehi in January.

While the Anfield outfit completed the British record deadline day £130m signing of Newcastle's Swedish attacking superstar their bid to land Crystal Palace defender Guehi fell through at the very last minute.

Isak, who had his first minutes of the season as a late substitute in his nation's World Cup qualifying defeat in Kosovo, seems certain to be on the bench at Burnley after Slot indicated he will not rush him into the starting side despite believing he has signed the cream of the world’s striking crop.

And he credited Sweden boss and former Newcastle striker Jon Dahl Tomasson with handling his most important asset in the correct way.

Slot said: “The Swedish manager deserves a big, big compliment because he gets maybe the best striker in the world and he needs to play two very important games for his country.

“But he understood that if he would play him twice for 90 minutes then the player would be injured for multiple weeks.

“It's not always easy for a manager that he takes care of the interest of a player.

"We will treat Alex the same as they did so don't expect him to be [playing] every single game 90 minutes on the pitch.

“That is definitely not going to happen in the upcoming weeks.

"He missed a proper pre-season, missed three to four months of team sessions.

“ So now we have to build him up gradually with us playing so many games.

“That is going to be a challenge but we have not signed him for the next two weeks we have signed him for six years and the fans have to keep this in mind.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola may dispute that claim, especially with Erling Haaland having scored five in his latest appearance for Norway.

Haaland has netted a staggering 127 goals in just 149 City games, with Isak notching 62 in 19 games for the Toon.

Slot admitted that missing out on Guehi, after a £35m fee had been agreed with Palace, had been a blow to his planning.

But with the England man now in the final year of his Selhurst Park contract, the Eagles may still be willing to cash in when the winter window opens rather than see Guehi leave for nothing at the end of the campaign.

Slot, whose champions boast the only remaining 100 per cent record just three games into the Prem season, conceded: “It would be ridiculous if I was to deny that we were close to signing him.

“These things happen in football and it has happened to our players in the past that they thought they were so close to signing somewhere else and then at the last moment things changed.

"For me, we would have liked to have signed him of course because we were in for him and if we feel we can strengthen the team with a chance in the market then we will not hesitate to do so.

“That is what we tried to do.

"It is a pity, not only for us but for the player.

“He is in a good place playing at Crystal Palace where he won the FA Cup and Charity Shield with a very good manager as well. Let's see what the future brings for him and for us.”