NEWCASTLE UNITED’S Saudi chiefs “won’t allow” Eddie Howe to be left short without a recognised striker.
The Magpies began the summer window searching for a replacement to fill the void left by Callum Wilson’s departure.
PAAlexander Isak is still on strike and has left Newcastle with no experienced strikers[/caption]
GettyEddie Howe is praying he can sign a new forward before transfer deadline day[/caption]
Now the need for a new frontman has intensified with Alexander Isak going on strike as he tries to force through a move to Liverpool.
Newcastle have already suffered rejections from Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko.
And fears are now mounting they could be left with the inexperienced Will Osula as the only senior striker – especially if Isak gets his mega-money transfer to Anfield.
But Howe, who remains adamant that the wantaway Swede is going nowhere, said: “I don’t think the club will allow that situation to happen.
“You certainly can’t go through the season with no recognised striker at the football club.
“That’s no disrespect to Will Osula. He’s doing and progressing really well but he’s got limited experience in the Premier League.
“Although I’m really happy with his career progression, at the moment Alex would be the only striker we have with Premier League history of goals and appearances and starts.
“So we can’t leave ourselves in that position.”
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The 22-year-old Dane Osula, who came on as a late substitute in last week’s goalless draw at Aston Villa, only managed two goals in 19 appearances last term.
And with Isak refusing to play at Villa Park, winger Anthony Gordon impressed after being deployed as makeshift striker.
Though Howe knows full well that is not the long-term answer to replacing Isak’s goals.
He said: “I don’t think anyone can fill Alex’s boots and Anthony will know that himself. He’s not trying to be Alex, he’s got to be himself.
“If he’d scored against Aston Villa, you’d go, ‘That’s the perfect number nine performance’. I think he had seven shots in the game, he looked a threat, he got a man sent off.
“He was using his qualities, which are his pace and his dribbling skills, so I thought it was a really good performance from him.
“Yes, of course we were missing the goal from the team’s overall performance, but hopefully those will come.”
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Gordon, who had his head turned by Liverpool last summer, is set to lead the line again against his hometown club at what will be a raucous St. James’ Park on Monday.
And Howe has every faith that he can bring the feel-good factor back following the public row with Isak and fire Toon to victory.
He said: “It will be different for him, and of course we’re training him there currently at the moment, so he’s getting that work as a striker.
“He’s beginning to get that rhythm that you need, probably, playing that position, and the understanding and the tactical knowledge that you need because the role is very different but he’s an attacker and he’s a very good attacker.
“The beauty of Anthony when we signed him was he can play right, left and potentially down the middle, something that he has done before – he’s done it for England – so it’s not something totally new to him.”
Newcastle had a second bid, worth £40m, rejected by Brentford for Yoane Wissa this week and are also keen on Wolves’ Norwegian hitman Jorgen Strand Larsen and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.
And Howe claims the priority remains replacing Wilson and bringing in someone to support Isak – who he continues to believe can still have a Toon future.
He added: “I wouldn’t say we’re close. We still have a bit of time but that will go very quickly.
“We’re in a position where the squad is in a really good place. We’re still looking to replace Callum Wilson, that’s the big area we’re working on.”
Isak to Liverpool transfer saga timeline
JANUARY: First links to Liverpool emerge
FEBRUARY: £150million record fee mooted
MARCH: Isak denies Newcastle contract talk
APRIL: Eddie Howe hails Isak as “very professional.”
MAY: Howe insists Isak will not be sold
Last match in Newcastle shirt
JUNE: Transfer links to Liverpool heat up
JULY: Flies with Newcastle for Austria training camp
Left out of Celtic friendly
Liverpool hijack Toon’s Hugo Ekitike deal after making Isak enquiry
Doesn’t travel for pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea, citing injury
AUGUST: Training by himself at Newcastle
Liverpool have £110m bid rejected
Isak stops training and goes on strike
Moves out of his apartment
Releases angry statement blasting ‘trust has been lost’
Newcastle respond by insisting he won’t be sold unless it benefits club
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