Eddie Howe says Newcastle are not in a financial position to give Alexander Isak a new contract, and reminds players that rewards only come with performances on the field.
Mail Sport revealed on Thursday that talks over a new deal were no longer taking place after preliminary discussions at the end of last season, alerting Arsenal fans.
The club, led by new sporting director Paul Mitchell, believes Isak has enough time to fulfill his contract (it expires in 2028) and is already among the highest earners. The striker’s camp is also said to have reservations about the speed of the project on Tyneside, with Isak harboring Champions League ambitions.
Howe addressed the issue Friday, admitting there were no current contract talks.
“It’s a little more complex situation,” he said, when asked a question comparing Anthony Gordon’s new contract this week. “I think Alex has a long contract anyway and we have to be very careful with our expenses because of the PSR. It’s not a clear situation.
Eddie Howe revealed that Newcastle are not in a financial position to offer Alexander Isak a new contract due to PSR concerns.
Negotiations to improve the Swede’s contract began at the end of last season but have since ceased.
Isak scored 21 league goals last season as the Magpies finished outside the European places.
“Every decision we make as a football club has a knock-on effect. For contract renewals, there is a knock-on effect for the PSR, and we have to make sure we don’t put ourselves in a position where we can’t act freely in the windows.” transfer because of what we have done with individual player contracts.
“Of course we love Alex and are desperate for him to stay at Newcastle for many years and score many goals for us, but I don’t see a short-term problem with his contract. “At the moment, Alex just needs to concentrate on his football. Whether it’s him saying: “I’m fine. I have four years left on my contract, I’m happy at the club and I just want to play my best football.”
“But, of course, nothing is simple in football, so I’m sure there will be ongoing conversations between Alex, his representatives and the club. Alex can only improve his situation by playing well.”
Newcastle’s challenge is to convince players like Isak that they can fulfill their ambition at St James’ Park, and this was put to Howe.
“My part in this is to create an environment where they enjoy coming every day, where they feel stimulated in their training and feel like they are growing in their performances and careers,” the head coach said.
‘Other things going to a different place away from me. One of the challenges we have with all our best players is to continually drive the club forward. It is very easy to talk about ambition, but we have to show ambition. We have to give them an environment where they feel like they are thriving, because the better they perform, the better we have to build the structures around them. I am very aware of that and I know that the club is very aware of that, because what we don’t want to do is disband our team every year.
“We need to make sure we are doing our part as a football club for them. But also the player has to perform at that level. If he says he has big ambitions, he actually has to do business on the pitch; it’s a two-way game. ways, the challenge is always rejected. As a player, you can sit back and say: I want to play European football, but then you also have to play at that level I certainly want as many players as we can to reach those levels, because I know that if we do, we will be there (Europe) ourselves.”
The 25-year-old’s ambitions to play in the Champions League have sparked interest from Arsenal
Newcastle finished fourth two seasons ago and played in the Champions League last season, but a return to seventh place in May means they will have no continental competition this time.
Howe added: “We have to have a perception of achievement, grow as a football club to keep not just the so-called big names happy, but everyone happy and move in a forward direction.”
“I’ve quickly seen that things are going in another direction, so I think myself and everyone associated with the club have a big job to try to keep that positive momentum and keep the dreams really big.” It is absolutely crucial that we continue to do so.
“Now we also have to act on the field. “You can’t just talk about it, you have to deliver on the field, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
