Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has expressed strong confidence that star striker Alexander Isak will remain at the club for the 2025/26 season, despite growing transfer speculation and the player’s absence during their 4-0 pre-season defeat to Celtic.
Isak, who netted 23 goals in all competitions last season, has reportedly attracted interest from top clubs this summer, with Liverpool among those linked to the Swedish forward.
However, Howe believes the 24-year-old is settled at St James’ Park and expects him to stay beyond the transfer window.
While Howe admitted that no player’s future can be guaranteed in football, he affirmed that Isak is happy at the club, enjoys working with his teammates and coaching staff, and has shown no indication of wanting a move.
The striker, along with midfielder Joelinton, did not feature in Saturday’s match in Glasgow as part of planned load management, according to the club. Newcastle’s line-up was comfortably beaten by Scottish champions Celtic in their first major pre-season outing.
The fixture also marked the debut appearance of recent signing Anthony Elanga. The former Manchester United winger came on in the second half with the Magpies already trailing by two goals.
Elanga is expected to see more game time when Newcastle continue their pre-season tour against Arsenal on 27 July in Singapore.
Despite the disappointing result, Howe remains focused on preparing his squad for a competitive new season, with key players gradually reintegrating into the team.
