Newcastle United’s manager Eddie Howe couldn’t resist a pointed snipe at Liverpool following the protracted summer saga that saw Alexander Isak swap Tyneside for the red side of Merseyside.
With Liverpool having splashed out a staggering £135 million to capture Isak, relations between the two clubs have been frostier than the northeast in December. Newcastle’s faithful have been left particularly perturbed by Isak’s summer antics, which saw the Swede absent from pre-season and the opening fixtures of the 2025/26 campaign.
Once idolised by the Toon Army, Isak has swiftly become persona non grata after manoeuvring for the Anfield exit, with murmurs of Liverpool overstepping the mark with the player adding to the discontent on Tyneside.
When quizzed on the matter ahead of Newcastle’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Howe was tight-lipped yet pointed, referring to Liverpool simply as “the other club”.
“Alex and I shared a genuine rapport,” Howe mused. “Our work dynamic was mutually rewarding. We moulded him into the accomplished player you see today, and he was integral to our triumphs. But everything shifted once the other club altered his trajectory.”
Pressed further, Howe hinted at a sense of disappointment over Isak’s strike action but was philosophical about the situation. “The turning point was his decision to go on strike, which complicates things. From then, communication was strained,” added Howe.
He continued, “I don’t feel relief about not having to reintegrate him. It was uncertain until the transfer’s final moments. My focus now is our future without Alex, having already invested in two promising strikers.”
Those tasked with filling Isak’s scoring boots include Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. Unfortunately for Newcastle, Wissa will be sidelined for the upcoming Wolves fixture, leaving the door open for Woltemade’s full debut.
“The challenge for Nick is adapting to the Premier League and our style,” stated Howe. “I’ve been impressed so far, though I don’t wish to heap pressure on him. We just want him to play his natural game and blend into our setup.”
As Newcastle adjust to life post-Isak, the saga serves as a reminder of the often fragile loyalties in the modern game, where the allure of top clubs can quickly shift a player’s focus and allegiance.
Howe’s jibe at Liverpool may be dismissed as mere pettiness, but it encapsulates the raw emotion of a fanbase smarting from a high-profile departure on bittersweet terms.