Eddie Howe has promised Newcastle United are doing all they can to keep Alexander Isak this summer, with his defiant message not good news for Manchester City, either.
Manchester City have enjoyed a strong transfer window as Pep Guardiola looks to rebuild his side following last season’s disappointing campaign.
The bulk of the business was done early with the major signings of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait Nouir, but goalkeeper James Trafford is set to join them after a £27m deal was agreed with Burnley.
There doesn’t appear to be much left for City to do this summer other than to move on players like Jack Grealish and James McAtee, who are not in Guardiola’s plans.
However, if there is one position that could still be strengthened, it’s right-back following the sale of Kyle Walker to Burnley.
Tino Livramento has emerged as City’s top target but signing him is growing more difficult. Eddie Howe has reiterated that he wants to keep his top stars and improve his squad, rather than weaken it.
Eddie Howe’s Alexander Isak message is bad news for Manchester City
Speaking in a press conference upon landing in Singapore for the first leg of Newcastle’s pre-season tour, Howe was unsurprisingly bombarded with questions on Alexander Isak’s future.
It emerged on Friday that Isak wants to leave Newcastle this summer, with Liverpool his most likely destination despite their already wild spending and the expected signing of striker Hugo Ekitike.
However, Howe remains determined to keep his star Swedish striker.
He said: “All I would say on the broader picture is whatever happens has to be right for Newcastle.
“We’re in a very strong position financially, we’re determined to be successful, we are ambitious, we’ve got a great season ahead of us.
“We need to add to the squad and continue to improve, and the journey can continue on an upwards trajectory.
“I think that’s what we all want so that’s what we’re battling to try and achieve.
“Of course there’s things going on behind the scenes. He will be aware he’s in the news every day, and I’m sure that’s not easy for anyone in that situation.
“Conversations that happen between Alex and the club or Alex and myself will stay private for obvious reasons. We do share a really good relationship with him.
“He’s been magnificent for us since he’s joined. He’s very popular in the dressing room and we’d love him to continue his journey at Newcastle.”
Though speaking about Isak, the same no doubt applies to Livramento as well.
Manchester City’s chances of signing Tino Livramento this summer have just gone down
Signing Livramento was never going to be easy or cheap. The right-back is one of Newcastle’s most important players and, like Isak, is contracted until 2028.
But now the chances of City being able to pull a deal off have surely shrunk even further.
Newcastle are enduring a nightmare of a transfer window, in the very summer they were supposed to kick on after returning to the Champions League.
Instead, they have missed out on a string of top targets like Ekitike, Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Matheus Cunha.
City helped compound the misery on Friday by matching Newcastle’s bid for Trafford, with the goalkeeper choosing an Etihad return over the Magpies.
With Isak’s future now in serious jeopardy as well, Newcastle cannot afford any more bad news and there’s no chance they can sell Livramento this summer for the optics alone.
City will either need to find an alternative or be patient to get their man.
