![\"Eddie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755990432_404_2_Eddie-Howe-and-Alexander-Isak-File-Photo.jpg\")
Eddie Howe wants to keep Alexander Isak(Image: PA)<\/p>\nThe Newcastle hierarchy has to date remained steadfast amid Liverpool\u2019s attempts to prise Alexander Isak out of the club, aided and abetted by the player\u2019s stated intention to leaveEddie Howe wants to keep Alexander Isak(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
Newcastle\u2019s owners will not leave boss Eddie Howe without a recognised senior striker as the Alexander Isak saga rumbles into the final few days of the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n
The St James\u2019 Park hierarchy has to date remained steadfast amid Liverpool<\/a> \u2019s attempts to prise the 25-year-old Sweden international out of the club, aided and abetted by the player\u2019s stated intention to leave.<\/p>\n However, with Callum Wilson<\/a> having already left and no sign of a replacement arriving \u2013 Brentford\u2019s Yoane Wissa currently remains stubbornly beyond head coach Eddie Howe\u2019s grasp with Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko having already slipped through it \u2013 the Magpies find themselves in a difficult situation.<\/p>\n Asked about the prospect of losing Isak without a new recruit in place, Howe said: \u201cI don\u2019t think the club will allow that situation to happen. We certainly can\u2019t go through the season with no recognised striker at the football club \u2013 and that\u2019s no disrespect to Will Osula.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s doing really well and he\u2019s progressing really well, but he\u2019s got limited experience in the Premier League<\/a>, although I\u2019m really happy with his career progression.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Alexander Isak\u2019s Liverpool saga to \u2018end pretty quickly\u2019 now after he proved Eddie Howe spot on<\/a>READ MORE: Alexander Isak given drastic new plan to force Newcastle into Liverpool transfer<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBut Alex at the moment would be the only striker we have with Premier League history of goals and appearances and starts, so we can\u2019t leave ourselves in that position.\u201d<\/p>\n Osula, 22, has not started a Premier League game since his \u00a310million arrival from Sheffield United last summer, and it was left to Anthony Gordon to line up in a largely unaccustomed central role in last weekend\u2019s 0-0 draw at Aston Villa<\/a>, one he is likely to reprise against Liverpool on Monday evening.<\/p>\n Asked how challenging it is for Gordon to play as a number nine \u2013 something he did to great effect in England\u2019s 2023 European Under-21s Championship-winning team \u2013 Howe said: \u201cHe\u2019s an attacker and he\u2019s a very good attacker.<\/p>\n \u201cThe beauty of Anthony when we signed him was he can play right, left and potentially down the middle, something that he has done before. He\u2019s done it for England, so it\u2019s not something totally new to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think anyone can fill Alex\u2019s boots and Anthony will know that himself. He\u2019s not trying to be Alex, he\u2019s got to be himself.<\/p>\n \u201cI think if he\u2019d scored against Aston Villa, you\u2019d go, \u2018That\u2019s the perfect number nine performance\u2019. I think he had seven shots in the game, he looked a threat, he got a man sent off.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was using his qualities, which are his pace and his dribbling skills, so I thought it was a really good performance from him.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, of course we were missing the goal from the team\u2019s overall performance, but hopefully those will come.\u201d<\/p>\n Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Eddie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Britain-Soccer-Premier-League-25228499129238.jpg\")
Eddie Howe has been without Isak all pre-season(Image: AP)<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744106962_61_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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