Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe insisted that he was “confident” Alexander Isak would remain on Tyneside this summer, although he did reveal the telling impact of Liverpool’s very public pursuit of his striker.

Liverpool are trying to negotiate a transfer for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike after testing the water with Newcastle for Alexander Isak earlier in the week

Eddie Howe admits it is not possible to 100% guarantee that Alexander Isak will still be a Newcastle player at the end of the transfer window. The Magpies’ talismanic striker has been heavily linked with a British record transfer move to Liverpool this week, while Arsenal are known to have been long-standing admirers.