AFTER one of the greatest seasons in their illustrious history, Alan Shearer has just one word to sum up Newcastle’s summer: “Awful”.
But the Toon legend believes that if they can replace wantaway Alexander Isak with TWO new strikers, then Eddie Howe can lead the club to more European football next season.
GettyAlan Shearer has branded Newcastle’s transfer window ‘awful’[/caption]
GettyShearer has been left disappointed by the transfer saga surrounding Alexander Isak[/caption]
Boss Howe has been dealt a calamitous hand to prepare for a new Premier League season, one that most rival clubs are thanking their lucky stars to have avoided so far.
Swedish superstar Isak has done everything possible to break free from the Tyneside chains this summer for the bright lights of Liverpool: going on strike, accusing Newcastle of “breaking promises” on social media.
And in a secret meeting with the board before their thriller of a 3-2 defeat to Arne Slot’s Reds on Monday night, he reaffirmed his position of wanting out, regardless of his £150m price tag and a contract that still has three long years to run.
In the meantime, their attempts to replace him have fallen crushingly short, including Hugo Ekitike, who made it 2-0 to Liverpool before Newcastle roused for an iconic comeback that was ruined by 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha’s 110th-minute winner.
Whatever happens, it looks to be a lose-lose for Newcastle and Howe – a mad statement after clinching Champions League football and ending their 70-year wait for a trophy last term.
Should they hold out and keep Isak, there is no guarantee he will be welcomed back into the dressing room, let alone play again in the black and white stripes without taking pelters from his own fans.
Should they sell him, it leaves them with little time before the window closes on Monday night to bolster their attack, currently in talks to nab Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
Sat cross-legged on a chair in a studio in East London, Shearer is in a pensive mood, one of many Newcastle fans worn down by the messiest of transfer sagas.
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But he is trying to remain optimistic. Asked if Monday’s performance shows there is life after Isak, Shearer popped back: “He hasn’t gone yet, has he?”
Hope is still there, but it is also the hope that kills you. He explained to SunSport: “It’s been an awful summer for Newcastle for many reasons.
AFPEddie Howe is desperate to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes[/caption]
GettyIsak is determined to join Liverpool[/caption]
“They’ve missed out on so many top targets. Eddie Howe has had to put up with the questioning of Isak for every single day before every single game which is not helpful.
“We all hoped it would be a summer to kick on.
“But it hasn’t. It’s been a disappointing one. We’ll have to wait until Tuesday morning to see whether that has put them back or not.
“They need two players to replace Isak. They were pretty light last year with Isak and Callum Wilson. The likelihood of that happening? I don’t know. They’ve been trying to do that for the last three or four weeks.
“If the worst thing happens and they lose Isak, but they’re able to get two in, then I still believe they’ll have enough to get in and around the top six.
“But if you’ve been in football long enough you know that the one constant is the football club. Players move, fans pass away, you move on, you shift on.
“It always has to be bigger than anything or anyone. Whatever happens, whether Isak goes or not, Newcastle United will survive. That’s the big picture.
“But you need a big squad to play the way Newcastle do in several competitions. The bigger teams handle it better because of the finances behind them.”
Another constant has been the impeccable Howe – a calming voice but assertive figure at the top of a club that is still without a sporting director and chief executive.
Speaking on behalf of Betfair, Shearer added: “You have to feel sorry for Eddie. Through no fault of his own he’s having to deal with issues that don’t come around very often.
“But as he will tell you, he’s just got to find solutions, as tough as they are.
“Because of what he’s achieved at Newcastle, people will understand if things don’t go to plan this season and understand what a tough time it’s actually been.
“And with Eddie’s man-management skills, I would back him to reintegrate Isak if he stays, but that’s a big if. It’s just a very messy situation that everyone could have done without.”
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