The rumors surrounding the Swedish striker have been intense during the summer.
He is not here with us. We need to focus on those who are here and get the best out of every player who is available. That's how it's always been.
Isak is said to want to leave Newcastle for play with reigning league champions Liverpool.
Training on his own
The transfer there has been going on for a while and is a long-drawn-out story. Isak did not follow Newcastle's training camp in Asia – which was interpreted as a clear signal that he wanted to leave.
In addition, Isak has been allowed to train on his own and has also traveled to Spain to keep going with his old club Real Sociedad.
Newcastle's Eddie Howe gets a question at the press conference about whether he thinks Isak will still be a Newcastle player after the transfer window closes, on September 1.
For the time being, I would say so. But I have no change in feeling in the matter. It's not up to me. But he has a contract with us, so that's why I say so.
May miss three matches
The coach also gets a question about how the situation has affected the rest of the player squad.
I think the players will notice that he's not here. But it won't be the focus. The focus will be on them playing to the best of their ability. That's all we can do.
In 2022, Isak became the most expensive Swede of all time when Newcastle paid close to 800 million kronor for the striker.
Newcastle will meet Liverpool on August 25 and Leeds on August 30. According to Howe, Isak risks missing those matches as well if the situation is not resolved.
