Isak missed Newcastle game due to transfer speculation – Howe…
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said Alexander Isak missed the 4-0 preseason defeat against Celtic due to speculation linking him with a transfer away from the club.
Isak, 25, was the subject of interest from Liverpool this week with sources telling ESPN that the Premier League champions were considering a move for the Sweden international this summer as they continue their search for a No. 9.
However, Howe, who is set to lead Newcastle into the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, said he remained confident Isak would still be with Newcastle come the end of the transfer window on Sept. 1.
“It was my decision,” Howe said postmatch about Isak’s absence. “He travelled back to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him.
“The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him. But I’m confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window.”
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Howe also confirmed he has spoken to Isak about his future at the club but said the player had been professional amid speculation about his future.
“Yes I’ve had discussions with him, but that’s not abnormal,” Howe said. “I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realise there’ll be noise around him.”
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Martín Zubimendi: Liverpool move didn’t come at ‘right time’
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes new signing Martín Zubimendi joined the club despite “many opportunities.” (0:34)
James Olley
Jul 23, 2025, 08:53 AM
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Martín Zubimendi has said he turned down Liverpool last summer because “it wasn’t the right time” to leave Real Sociedad and expressed his hope he can be the difference-maker in Arsenal’s bid for glory.
The 26-year-old completed a £51 million ($67m) move to Arsenal earlier this month which was the culmination of a double transfer which saw Mikel Merino make the same switch in 2024.
Liverpool were in advanced talks with Sociedad over Zubimendi but the Spain international opted to remain at the club for another season, during which time Arsenal won the battle for his signature.
Speaking for the first time on the club’s preseason tour to Singapore, Zubimendi said: “It wasn’t an easy time for me because, I wanted to stay at Real, but when offers come in, you start thinking about your options.
Martín Zubimendi joined Arsenal this summer after competition for his signature from Liverpool in 2024. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
“The first question I had to answer was whether I wanted to leave Real, and it wasn’t the right time. I felt that Real offered me more opportunities and that I still had a lot to learn, so staying at Real was the best decision for me.
“I don’t know what he [Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta] saw in me, but I saw him as one of the top coaches in Europe. At the end of the day, I wanted a quality coach when I left Real Sociedad.
“I think I’ve found him. In the few days I’ve been here, I’ve seen how meticulous he is about every aspect of the game, so I think he’s the one.”
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Arsenal have not won any silverware since the 2020 FA Cup and were narrowly beaten by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals last season.
“Ultimately, I believe that football comes down to details, especially in the Champions League,” Zubimendi said. “I feel that Arsenal were the only team who truly stood up to PSG, and they let it slip because of minor details. It’s a long season, and injuries play an important role, so the fewer we have, the better.”
Asked if he could be the difference-maker, Zubimendi said: “I hope so. The most important thing about this club is that they learn from previous seasons. I think the lessons they’ve learned from how last season ended will be key to getting even closer to this year’s targets.”
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