Eddie Howe has same Alexander Isak problem that saw star dubbed 'dressing room burden'

The Alexander Isak saga has left Newcastle United with a similar problem to the one Borussia Dortmund faced before Erling Haaland's departure to Manchester City. Isak has told the Magpies he wants to explore a move away from Tyneside after speculation surrounding his future ratcheted up over the last week.

Head coach Eddie Howe sent the Swede home from Newcastle's friendly at Celtic"due to the speculation around him." Later in the week, it was announced he would not be part of United's pre-season tour to Asia, with a minor thigh issue being cited as the reason for his absence

On the same day, it emerged that Isak had requested to look at options away from St James' Park, with Liverpool interested in signing the 25-year-old despite the arrival of Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69million.

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Liverpool may have to pay up to £150m to prise Isak away from Newcastle, who are under no pressure to sell their star striker. However, despite his undoubted quality, Isak’s continued presence at the club may prove to be an unwanted distraction as the Magpies prepare for the new season.

It's a similar scenario to the one faced by Dortmund as speculation over Haaland's future raged in 2022. After scoring a remarkable 86 goals in 89 games following his move from RB Salzburg, Haaland was on the radar of a host of clubs, including Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona before he eventually joined City in a deal worth £85.5million.

While Haaland's departure left a huge hole at Dortmund, there was an element of relief when he left, with sporting director Sebastian Kehl admitting the speculation around Haaland's future had become a burden.

After Haaland's exit, he told Bild: "In the end, the Haaland issue became a burden in the locker room. As much as we always loved Haaland and he was successful with us, in the end, he became a burden on the dressing room, the club and the whole environment.

"He had become the subject of every conversation. Outside the club, almost everything was exclusively focused on him. In the end, the timing of the transfer was right for both parties. And we are all happy for Erling that he continues to be so successful."

Howe will not want that situation to be replicated at Newcastle, although he has refused to put a timescale on a decision over Isak's future. Speaking in Singapore, Howe admitted the club have a "decision to make."

"I wouldn't put a timescale on it. I think with these situations it has to be right for the football club, and everything then is taken into context below that," he said.

"But the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has, and ultimately to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it's up to us to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can. That’s what we're trying to do, regardless of Alex's situation.

"But I think there's a wider picture here. There's a whole football club that has to make the decision. The ownership, together with the board of directors, especially with the money involved in modern day transfers. The manager of course has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board."

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