‘Irreplaceable’ Alexander Isak ‘loves’ Newcastle, claims Howe – and boss is ‘desperate’ to keep striker

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has said the Magpies “treasure” Alexander Isak and expect him to stay with them this summer despite intense speculation linking the Sweden striker with a move away from the club.

Isak, who scored 27 goals in all competitions last season, was not in Newcastle’s squad for their 4-0 pre-season friendly thrashing at Celtic on Saturday.

“Alex has trained and is fine but we didn’t want to take the risk with him,” said Howe, suggesting that Isak’s omission was a precaution against injury.

“It’s difficult for me to give 100% clarity on any player. All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle – he loves the players, the staff, the team.”

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Is Alexander Isak injured? Why Isak didn’t play against Celtic

Isak missed Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on May 18 with a groin injury but was almost ever-present for the rest of the Premier League season.

There was an element of mystery around the 25-year-old’s withdrawal from Sweden’s squad for two friendlies at the start of June, with the Swedish FA attributing the move to a “minor injury”.

“I’ve never had any issue with him,”  Howe said of a player under contract until 2028. “I’m confident he’s going to be here at the start of the season.”

Alexander Isak latest: Howe calls forward ‘irreplaceable’

While Isak scored 23 league goals in 2024/25, winger Harvey Barnes was a distant second among Newcastle’s players, scoring nine times in the top flight.

“Irreplaceable top players are so hard to find, recruit and develop into those players,” accepted Howe. “So when you have them, you have to treasure them. We’re desperate to keep him.”

William Osula, a 21-year-old signed from Sheffield United for £15 million in 2024, led the line for Newcastle in the first half at Celtic Park and is one of Howe’s few alternative out-and-out strikers.

The former Derby County loanee from the Blades is yet to start a Premier League game, although he scored his first top-flight goal against Ipswich Town in April and has been prolific for Denmark at Under-21 level.

New signing Seung-Soo Park – a highly-rated 18-year-old South Korean forward – watched from the stands as Newcastle made a forgettable start to their pre-season schedule.

Alexander Isak transfer: Newcastle ‘busy’

Howe said the departure of sporting director Paul Mitchell had provided him with “a busier summer than I wanted” in respect of transfers.

“Someone in that role protects the manager from a lot of thing,” Howe explained. “The summer certainly wasn’t a relaxing one for me to switch off and see what happens.

“It’s been challenging, in that respect. We need to make sure we’re strong enough for a long campaign.”

Midfielder Sean Longstaff, who left for Leeds United for £12m on Friday after 19 years at Newcastle, was “someone I never wanted to lose”, Howe said, adding that finances, Premier League profit and sustainability rules and “long-term planning” have affected his decisions.

“He’s a big miss – he was very popular in the dressing room and on the pitch. He did a great job and tactically understood everything we needed him to do.

“On days like today, when you’re having to put two teams out [in either half], you really see his absence highlighted.”

Newcastle vs Celtic

Goalkeeper Nick Pope made a farcical error during the hammering in Glasgow in front of around 10,000 visiting fans.

Arne Engels put the reigning Scottish champions ahead with a 28th-minute penalty following a Joe Willock foul before Pope misjudged a header after advancing from his area to deal with a long ball from counterpart Kasper Schmeichel, allowing Johnny Kenny to double the Hoops’ lead.

Yang Hyun-Jun tapped in Daizen Maeda’s cross to compound Newcastle’s misery seven minutes after the restart, and Ireland defender Liam Scales’s 75th-minute header completed a 4-0 win for the hosts, whose manager, Brendan Rodgers, made 10 substitutions after the third goal.

Winger Anthony Elanga, who joined Newcastle for £55 million from Nottingham Forest last week, came on at half-time and was lively.

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Newcastle teams, lineups for pre season friendly vs Celtic

Newcastle starting lineup: Pope, Trippier, Botman, Schar, Targett, Willock, Bruno, Miley, Murphy, Barnes, Osula

Newcastle second half lineup: Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Burn, A Murphy, Tonali, White, Miley, Elanga, Gordon, Osula.

Newcastle pre season fixtures 2025/26

July 27 vs Arsenal (Singapore)
TBC July/August vs K-League Select XI (South Korea)
TBC July/August vs Spurs (South Korea)
August 9 vs Atletico Madrid (H)

When does Newcastle’s 2025/26 Premier League season start?

The first round of Premier League matches in 2025/26 will be on the weekend of August 16 2025, including Newcastle’s trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, August 17 at 12:30 BST.

The game against the Villans, who Newcastle pipped to a place in this season’s Champions League, will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.

The last round of matches this season will all start at the same time on May 24 2026. No rounds will take place within 60 hours of each other and there will be no fixture on December 24.