How do Newcastle resolve Isak saga and rescue 'nightmare' window?

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Alan Shearer's BBC Sport column

So far, Newcastle's pre-season has been a nightmare. There is nary different measurement of describing it.

They person had a disastrous transportation window, missing retired connected each 1 of their apical targets they went for, and connected apical of that they person sewage Alexander Isak's business hanging complete them arsenic they get fresh for nan opening weekend.

One measurement aliases different they person to resoluteness it, but that won't beryllium easy. Isak intelligibly wants to time off St James' Park and subordinate Liverpool, but he cannot beryllium sold if they don't get anyone successful to switch him.

It's not conscionable 1 caller striker Newcastle need, either. Callum Wilson moved connected earlier successful nan summertime truthful nan reality is that if they don't get 2 centre-forwards in, Isak does not spell anywhere.

That is still a imaginable script and, if he is still astatine Newcastle erstwhile nan model closes astatine nan commencement of September, things get absorbing because he will want to play - he could beryllium playing for his World Cup spot pinch Sweden astatine adjacent summer's finals.

There are a batch of ifs, buts and maybes surrounding Isak astatine nan moment, but complete nan adjacent 2 aliases 3 weeks we will find retired a batch much astir really things could cookware out.

At nan moment, though, Newcastle's privilege is Saturday and their travel to Aston Villa.

I consciousness for head Eddie Howe and nan remainder of nan players who are having to woody pinch each nan sound astir this erstwhile it is not their fault, and Isak is not going to beryllium pinch them for that crippled - which is really disappointing.

Media caption,

Do Liverpool request Alexander Isak?

'Liverpool are ne'er going to get Isak for £110m'

This summertime should person been a clip for Newcastle to really footwear connected aft past season, pursuing nan highs of claiming their first home trophy for 70 years and past qualifying for nan Champions League.

I don't cognize really aliases why it has been allowed to happen, but correct now it feels for illustration overmuch of that momentum has been lost.

Newcastle went into nan summertime pinch nary main executive aliases sporting director, which I find amazing. They knew Darren Eales was stepping down arsenic main executive past September - 11 months agone - and Paul Mitchell near arsenic sporting head astatine nan extremity of June.

I don't cognize why they haven't appointed anyone yet aliases if that has hindered them successful nan transportation market, because I americium not wrong nan club, but from nan extracurricular it is not a bully look. It's a mess, and it begs nan mobility astir who has been making nan large decisions.

Now they person to woody pinch Isak arsenic well. There are 2 sides to each communicative and we haven't heard from Isak yet, aliases anyone wrong his camp, different than him saying he wants to research his options.

We don't cognize erstwhile he told nan nine that, really he told them, aliases what his feelings are astir precisely why he wants out. What we do cognize is that Liverpool person offered £110m for him.

In caller years we person seen Enzo Fernandez, Declan Rice and Jack Grealish spell for astir £100m so, if that is nan bar, they are ne'er going to get Isak - a 25-year-old striker who has scored 44 Premier League goals crossed nan past 2 seasons - for £110m. I don't deliberation you'd get Dan Burn for that, to beryllium honest.

Newcastle person named their price, which is nearer to £150m, truthful we will person to spot what Liverpool do next. The apical and bottommost of it is that if Newcastle don't get nan money they want, aliases nan 2 strikers they need, past Isak stays.

Media caption,

Isak wants to 'win Champions League, not play successful it' - Warnock

Why Wissa and Watkins would beryllium a bully fit

I americium not angry astir nan measurement Isak has behaved, because I cognize really shot works. I'm disappointed and amazed that this is happening now, but I person been successful nan crippled agelong capable to understand why we person sewage to this point.

It seems evident that Liverpool person sewage into him, aliases his agent, to move his caput and make him want to spell there. From a players' perspective, alternatively than a fan, I get nan mentality wherever he has made his mind up astir what is champion for his early too.

But it is nan nine that matters astir present and, immoderate happens next, nan crux of nan matter is that Newcastle United are acold bigger than immoderate 1 individual - it ever has been, and ever will be.

Players move connected each nan time, and do what they person to do, but nan nine is ever there. That's nan 1 constant, each season.

So, Newcastle person to look aft themselves, which intends that if they are contemplating letting Isak spell for immoderate value they want for him, past they besides request to get 2 strikers they want successful earlier they tin do that.

If they are available, Brentford's Yoane Wissa and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins are proven Premier League strikers and astir apt nan best-case script from Newcastle's constituent of view.

At nan aforesaid time, I admit fans of those clubs won't for illustration their centre-forwards being linked pinch moves away, nan aforesaid measurement Newcastle supporters consciousness correct now.

Wissa's situation, successful particular, sounds very akin to Isak's. It conscionable shows you that this is thing that happens successful shot each nan time, and of people it is frustrating erstwhile you are connected nan incorrect extremity of it.

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres averaged much than a extremity per crippled past play for Portuguese broadside SportingImage source, Getty Images

Image caption,

New Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres averaged much than a extremity per crippled past play for Portuguese broadside Sporting

How will different caller strikers settee in?

It is very difficult to foretell what Newcastle's play could look for illustration until Isak's early is sorted out, but it could still beryllium a very bully one.

They person sewage 1 of, if not nan best, midfields successful nan country, they are really beardown successful wide areas and it looks for illustration they are signing different centre-half successful AC Milan's Malick Thiaw.

So, looking astatine nan bigger picture, whether Isak stays aliases goes and they tin bring 2 value strikers in, they person still sewage a very bully team.

Even so, I americium still not judge they would beryllium capable to amended connected past season's fifth-place finish. Last season's apical 4 person done truthful overmuch bully business and gone truthful large successful nan transportation market, it is going to beryllium highly difficult for immoderate of nan chasing battalion to break into those places, not conscionable Newcastle.

In position of nan title I spot Liverpool arsenic favourites, moreover without Isak. You conscionable person to look astatine what they did past season, and really they won nan title astatine a canter.

They person seen Trent Alexander-Arnold leave, and tragically mislaid Diogo Jota, but person spent heavy to fortify their squad and won't beryllium distracted by having immoderate stars coming to nan extremity of their contract. Who knows what they mightiness do nether Arne Slot if they sewage different guardant arsenic bully arsenic Isak is, too.

Arsenal yet person an out-and-out striker successful Viktor Gyokeres and will judge that, aft 3 successive 2nd places, he tin get them complete nan statement successful a title race. Their apical scorer successful nan Premier League past play was Kai Havertz pinch 9 goals, truthful that tells you what they person been missing.

How Gyokeres fits successful is 1 of nan things I americium really looking guardant to uncovering retired successful nan caller campaign, and it is nan aforesaid pinch different strikers astatine caller clubs, for illustration Liam Delap and Joao Pedro astatine Chelsea. I don't deliberation they are vanished yet successful nan transportation market, and their onslaught is already looking a batch much vulnerable than past season.

The aforesaid applies pinch really Benjamin Sesko settles successful astatine Manchester United. I was disappointed that he chose to spell location complete Newcastle, but astatine nan aforesaid clip I saw him unrecorded respective times past play and he is simply a subordinate pinch potential, alternatively than offering guaranteed goals.

I spot what Sesko's strengths are, but £74m is simply a batch of money for a subordinate pinch room for improvement. At 22 he is nary measurement nan vanished article, but location will still beryllium large unit connected him to perform.

With Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United person spent much than £200m connected their guardant line, but I still don't spot them getting successful adjacent season's apical four.

I deliberation it's almost intolerable for them to spell from 15th to nan Champions League places, moreover if 5th spot is bully capable again. Instead I person them finishing anyplace betwixt sixth and 10th, but nary higher.

Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.