Eddie Howe confirms whether Alexander Isak has already said Newcastle goodbyes ahead of Liverpool move

Liverpool Football Club are standing on the edge of one of the biggest transfer sagas of recent years, and it all circles around the name Alexander Isak. The Newcastle United striker has been linked with the Reds for months, whispers turning into loud noise, rumours turning into half-confirmations, and now, with only two days left in the summer transfer window, the drama has reached boiling point. Trusted reporters have confirmed that Liverpool are desperate to land the Swedish striker, Newcastle are trying to manage the chaos, and Isak himself has been caught in the middle of anger, hope, and speculation.

The question now is simple: will Isak be a Newcastle player when the window closes, or will he be wearing Liverpool red, standing at Anfield as the newest jewel in Arne Slot’s attack? That question has driven fans crazy, it has torn social media apart, and it has even reached the dressing rooms of St. James’ Park, because some are saying Isak has already said goodbye.

On Saturday evening, after Newcastle’s goalless draw against Leeds United, reports began to fly that Alexander Isak had already gone to the training ground to say goodbye to his teammates. The rumour started during Viaplay’s Swedish commentary of the game, and then former footballer turned pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft added fuel to the fire by resharing it online. For Liverpool fans, it felt like the confirmation they had been praying for. They believed the deal was almost done, that Isak was hours away from joining, that the wait was finally over. But then Eddie Howe stepped in, and his words brought another twist to the already tangled story.

Howe, standing in front of the cameras after his team’s frustrating draw, looked bemused. He was asked directly about the claims that Isak had said goodbye. His reaction was sharp: he said it was the first he had heard of it, and as the manager, if Isak had truly come to the training ground to say goodbye, he would have been the first to know. He dismissed the rumour as nothing but noise, created by the endless swirl of the transfer market. And yet, even as he spoke, many wondered if this was really the truth or simply the manager’s attempt to calm the storm for a few more hours.

Journalists close to Newcastle, like Luke Edwards and Lee Ryder, quickly confirmed Howe’s stance. They reported that Howe insisted there had been no communication from Isak, no official farewell, no face-to-face talk between manager and striker. But the denial did not kill the story. Instead, it only made it grow larger, because in football, when a saga has gone this far, silence often speaks louder than words.

For weeks, rumours have suggested that Isak has grown frustrated at Newcastle. He has been linked heavily with Liverpool, and some reports even claimed he effectively went on strike, refusing to fully commit in training to push for his dream move. For a player of his talent, this was never going to be a quiet story. Liverpool have been chasing him relentlessly because they see him as the perfect piece to complete their attack. He is tall, fast, ruthless in front of goal, and he has the kind of ice-cold finishing ability that can decide tight matches.

Liverpool supporters know what he could bring. For them, the thought of an attacking line with Isak alongside Salah, Nunez, Jota, and Gakpo feels like a return to the deadly Liverpool of old. They imagine him scoring in front of the Kop, they imagine him tearing through Manchester United, Arsenal, and even Manchester City. That dream has kept them glued to every update, even as the hours tick down.

From Newcastle’s perspective, the whole thing has been a nightmare. Isak is their star forward, the man who carried their attack last season, and the player they built their hopes around. Losing him this late in the window would be a disaster, unless they already had a replacement lined up. And that is exactly what has raised suspicions. On Saturday morning, Newcastle completed the signing of German striker Nick Woltemade, a young but promising forward. And even after that deal, reports suggested Newcastle were still hunting another striker. For many, this looked like clear preparation, the steps a club takes when they know they are about to lose a big name. It was as if Newcastle were quietly building the safety net so that when Isak leaves, they can still face the season with some kind of attack.

This is where the tension really lies. Newcastle fans are furious at the idea of losing their star to a rival like Liverpool. They know money talks, they know Financial Fair Play rules have been pressuring the club to balance the books, but they also know Isak is special. If he goes, they feel their dreams of pushing into the top four again might collapse. Some fans have already turned against Isak, accusing him of betrayal, of forcing the move instead of committing to the project at St. James’ Park. That anger has made the situation toxic, and it is part of why some believe Howe’s denial of the farewell rumours is not the end of the story. Even if Isak has not officially said goodbye, he may have already emotionally checked out.

For Liverpool, the timing could not be more dramatic. With just two days to go before the window slams shut, everything must move at lightning speed. Negotiations, medicals, contracts — everything has to happen fast. The club are pushing, the player is keen, but Newcastle’s valuation remains the key. If Liverpool meet the price, the deal could explode into life. If they hesitate, the whole thing could collapse. That uncertainty is what makes it so intense for fans on both sides.

Eddie Howe’s words that there has been “no communication” might sound final, but in football, managers often play their cards close. Howe knows very well that transfers can change overnight. Today he may deny everything, tomorrow the bid might be accepted, and suddenly the goodbye that he said never happened will become official. It has happened before with countless players, and it could happen again here. That is why Liverpool fans refuse to give up hope.

The idea of taking it to the wire has made this saga even more emotional. Every hour that passes, the pressure grows. Every leak of information feels like a bombshell. Some fans are tracking flights, some are hunting for photos of Isak in airports, some are even watching training ground gates in case he appears with a suitcase. The obsession has taken over. For Liverpool supporters, this is not just a transfer, it is a statement of intent, proof that the club are serious about challenging Manchester City and Arsenal for the title. For Newcastle supporters, it is about betrayal, about losing the hero they believed in, and about watching one of their rivals steal their future.

The truth is, whichever way this goes, somebody will be broken-hearted. If Liverpool fail, their fans will be furious that the club did not act sooner, that they let another great striker slip away. If Newcastle lose him, their fans will feel robbed, weakened, and humiliated. The only person who could truly be smiling is Isak himself, if he finally gets the move he has been dreaming of. For a striker who has always wanted to play at the very top, Liverpool offers everything: history, trophies, Champions League football, and a global stage. That is why he has pushed so hard, and that is why the saga has dragged on this long.

Right now, all eyes are on the final days. The reports of goodbyes may have been denied, but the truth will reveal itself soon. Howe cannot protect the story forever. If the deal is happening, it will explode into the headlines in the next 48 hours. If it collapses, the fallout in Newcastle will be messy, because many fans will not forgive Isak easily after everything that has been reported.

For Liverpool, this could be the signing that defines their season. With Salah’s future uncertain and the attack needing more firepower, Isak is seen as the man to carry them forward. For Newcastle, losing him would force them into a rebuild, one they may not be ready for. The stakes are massive, the emotions are raw, and the clock is ticking.

Liverpool taking it to the wire, Isak caught in the middle, Newcastle struggling to keep control, and Eddie Howe trying to calm the storm with his words. But in football, words cannot stop the truth for long. Soon, the saga will end, and the football world will know if Alexander Isak will still be the pride of St. James’ Park or the new weapon of Anfield. Until then, the drama continues, and every minute feels like a lifetime.