Arne Slot, the Liverpool manager, has stated that he has no sympathy for his Newcastle United counterpart, Eddie Howe, regarding the ongoing Alexander Isak transfer saga. Despite their close relationship, with Howe being the only Premier League manager Slot regularly exchanges texts with, the Liverpool boss remains unsentimental about Newcastle's current predicament.
Liverpool's pursuit of Isak has been a major talking point throughout the summer transfer window. The Reds reportedly had a £110 million bid rejected by Newcastle earlier in August, but speculation persists that they will return with an improved offer. Isak himself has added fuel to the fire by publicly stating his desire to leave Newcastle, accusing the club of "broken promises" and expressing a "loss of trust". He has been training away from his teammates and was absent from Newcastle's squad for their recent Premier League match.
Howe has acknowledged the difficult situation, admitting that Newcastle are in a "lose-lose" scenario. He has also confirmed that he held talks with Isak about his future. While expressing his hope that Isak will return to the team, Howe has insisted that the club will not allow him to leave unless they can sign suitable replacements. Newcastle have reportedly been trying to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford, but it is increasingly unlikely they will sign a second striker.
Slot's lack of sympathy stems from his belief that Newcastle still possess a wealth of attacking talent, despite Isak's potential departure. He highlighted the availability of players such as Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy, Anthony Elanga, and Harvey Barnes, suggesting that Howe has sufficient resources at his disposal. Slot stated, "For the rest, I don't need to have sympathy for a manager that can still have the availability of [Anthony] Gordon, [Jacob] Murphy, [Anthony] Elanga, [Harvey] Barnes. You don't need to have sympathy for a manager who has so many good players in his squad".
Despite the ongoing transfer speculation, Slot maintains a good relationship with Howe. He revealed that Howe is the only Premier League manager he has texted since taking over at Liverpool. Slot also believes that Howe has the qualities to eventually manage the England national team, stating, "Good human being and a very good manager".
The Isak saga has undoubtedly strained relations between Newcastle and Liverpool. Liverpool's sporting director, Richard Hughes, has close ties to Howe, as they shared a flat during their playing days at Bournemouth. Similarly, Michael Edwards, chief executive of football at Fenway Sports Group (Liverpool's owner), has been friends with Howe since they played for Portsmouth.
As the transfer window nears its end, the future of Alexander Isak remains uncertain. While Liverpool are keen to acquire his services, Newcastle are determined to hold onto their star striker unless their valuation is met and replacements are secured. The situation is further complicated by Isak's public declaration of his desire to leave, which has put Newcastle in a difficult position. It remains to be seen whether a compromise can be reached before the deadline, or if Isak will be forced to remain at St James' Park against his will. Some reports suggest a January transfer could be a potential solution.
