Newcastle United issue official Alexander Isak update & close in on striker swoop as Liverpool watch on

Eddie Howe has again spoken about the Alexander Isak situation as Newcastle United get renewed hope over signing a striker.

Isak won’t be involved in Newcastle’s Premier League opener away to Aston Villa on Saturday (kick-off 12:30pm) after going on strike in an attempt to force a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

The Swede is currently training alone at the club’s Benton training base. Eddie Howe has offered Isak the chance to reintegrate into the squad after missing the pre-season tour of Asia - but the player has refused.

The Athletic reported earlier this week that Isak has no intention of playing for United again, seeing his St James’ Park as “finished”. The Reds had a £110million bid rejected on August 1 but are yet to return with an improved offer.

Eddie Howe provides Alexander Isak update

“No, there's been no change to the situation,” Howe admitted. “All my focus has been on the training, on Aston Villa, on the transfer front in terms of trying to get players in. And you can imagine that that is all-consuming for me.

“So Alex's situation has been unchanged for a while and that will continue to be the case, I think.”

When asked if Howe had asked Isak to play against Villa, he replied: “I think those conversations, of course I've said many times during this summer I want him to play, I want him to train and of course I've had those conversations with him, but I think the details of those conversations need to remain private.”

Do you have to forget about Isak for now, then? “Yes, well I think we do,” said Howe. “He's not here with us, so we have to focus on who is here and get the best out of every single player in the squad that's fit and available. That's always been the way. I think the players will be aware that he's not here, but I don't think the focus will be on that.

“The focus will be on making sure that they play to the best of their ability, each and every player. That's all we can do.”

Newcastle United optimistic over striker deal

Brentford are closing in on a deal for AFC Bournemouth forward Dango Ouattara. And once complete, the Bees are likely to sanction Yoane Wissa’s exit, with Newcastle awaiting the green light to finalise a move having held talks over a £35m package.

The 28-year-old didn’t train with his teammates until resuming full training last week. However, he missed last Friday’s friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach and won’t be involved in the Premier League opener away to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Having already lost two key players in Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo to Arsenal and Manchester United, respectively, this summer, as well as manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, the Bees have refused to let Wissa go until a replacement is found.

But now that search appears to be nearing a successful conclusion, with West London outfit understood to have agreed a £42.5m fee to sign Bournemouth’s Ouattara.

Wissa is regarded as a replacement for Callum Wilson, so his arrival is unlikely to have an impact on Isak.

Howe added: “We've been looking to sign a striker all summer. We lost Callum Wilson at the end of last year so a striker was a necessity for us all through the window. That's not changed, we're still in that position.

“Of course, for loads of different reasons we haven't been able to sign one, but we still have time to do that.”

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