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.
After outlining their intentions earlier this week, the Reds appear to have pivoted towards signing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike having been made of Newcastle’s stance.
Arsenal, meanwhile, appear to be finally closing in on an agreement with Sporting Lisbon for Viktor Gyokeres, but any suggestion that Isak is interested in a move could dramatically change the picture.
Isak was absent from Saturday’s 4-0 pre-season friendly defeat against Celtic but Howe was quick to dismiss the suggestion that anything should be read into that.
The Newcastle manager did, however, offer a tantalising update, saying: ‘It’s difficult for me to give 100% clarity on any player.
‘Alex is happy at Newcwstle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I’m confident he’ll be here at the start of the season.’
Anthony Elanga, who made his Newcastle debut against Celti labelled Isak as ‘one of the best players in the world’ as he prepares to work with his international team-mate.
The 23-year-old winger completed his move to Tyneside last Friday and is united with fellow Sweden international Isak, who has been at the heart of transfer speculation this summer.
‘A player of Alex’s stature there’s always going to be noise around him,’ Elanga said.
‘For me, he’s one of the best players in the world, one of the best attackers in the world. I’ve played with him at international level so I can say so.
‘There’s always going to be noise, but at the end of the day he’s a Newcastle player right now. I’m just trying to focus on what he’s doing in training, showing his qualities and speaking to him every day.
‘Whenever I speak to Alex it’s always about good things – how my family is, how his family is and that’s the first thing he asked me – how my family is – because he sees them all the time when he comes with the national team.
‘I always try and focus on the present and the now. Alex being the player he is, one of the best attackers in the world, I think there’s always going to be noise around him, but he’s the type of player who is always staying focused.
‘What he’s shown in training is second to none. I’m looking forward to continuing training with him.
‘Not just him, but Anthony Gordon who I’m also close with. He’s helped me a lot settling in – he came from a different city as well. It’s been amazing so far.’