Eddie Howe responds to Benjamin Sesko claim that could impact Alexander Isak transfer

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe refused to talk about Benjamin Sesko directly, but didn't rule out interest in the RB Leipzig forward after Liverpool made an opening bid for Alexander Isak.

The Magpies are desperate to keep Isak but have been looking at other strikers in the market. Sesko is thought to have the choice of either Newcastle or Manchester United, while Yoane Wissa is also being chased by the former, but Brentford has so far been unrelenting in its stance of not wanting to let him leave.

While Newcastle wants to keep Isak, it is more likely that an offer could be tempting to the North East outfit if it can line up a couple of players to come in first. And Howe was asked about Sesko earlier today in a press conference.

"I am sorry to sound like a broken record: I am aware of what is happening, but I am not dealing with it," Howe said, via Chronicle Live. "I woke up today and had two training sessions, and then came straight here.

"I am finding out what is happening after it has happened. We will try to bring the best to the football club — I will make that clear — but I can't talk about individual targets."

Having been turned down by the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Joao Pedro already this summer, Newcastle has had a difficult summer. Losing Isak would only make that even harder.

(Image: Getty Images)

"We are looking at the best players we can get," Howe said. "We are only looking at the best we can get. I see all situations open and available to us.

"I feel that is the only way we are going to get where we want to go, which is to maximize quality over quantity. That is the way it has always been, the way we work, we try to improve, and we have done it pretty well to this point.

"It has been a challenging summer, as you know. We have missed out on loads of different targets for different reasons. But we are still very competitive and we are still in there trying to bring good players to the club, that won't change until the window shuts."

In addition to being asked about Sesko, Howe also offered confirmation that Liverpool had made a bid for Isak. He also said that he was only aware of the Swede training in Spain this week via media reports.

"I was made aware of a bid yesterday and that bid was turned down, all before I’d even heard about it," Howe said. "People back in England are dealing with the situation.

"I don’t know what happens next. From our perspective, we still support Alex in every way. My wish is that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again."

Liverpool.com says: If Newcastle can get some other forwards in to try and replace Isak, that might be the best plan. Losing a star man is never ideal, but it would free up money to spend, and mean not keeping a player against his wishes.

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