Eddie Howe admits Newcastle United are still struggling without Alexander Isak | OneFootball

Newcastle adapting after Isak departure

Newcastle are still living with the consequences of Alexander Isak’s summer exit, a transfer that reshaped their squad, their attack and, in subtle ways, their sense of continuity. The striker’s move to Liverpool for £130m came after a turbulent period that included a strike to force the transfer and a dramatic backdrop.

For Newcastle, the sale was financially significant and emotionally complicated. Isak had become more than a goalscorer, he was a reference point for how Eddie Howe’s side attacked, stretched defences and built moments of belief. When a player of that stature leaves, it alters rhythms as much as tactics. The money raised allowed Newcastle to reinvest, but the process of turning signings into solutions has proved gradual rather than immediate.

As they prepare for the reverse fixture at Anfield, the conversation around Newcastle still circles back to Isak, not out of nostalgia, but because his absence continues to shape how the team is evolving.

Integrating new forwards

Newcastle responded by breaking their transfer record on Nick Woltemade for £69m and adding Yoane Wissa for £55m. On paper, it looked decisive, even bold. In practice, integrating two major attacking signings while trying to maintain competitive rhythm has been a complex task.

The challenge is not simply to replace goals. It is to recreate chemistry, timing and the instinctive understanding that develops over seasons rather than weeks. Newcastle’s forward line has needed recalibration, with roles adjusted and patterns refined, all while the fixture list leaves little room for extended work on the training pitch.

Howe has been clear that progress is being made, but it is uneven by nature. The new arrivals are contributing, yet the collective fluency that once revolved around Isak’s movement and finishing remains a work in progress.

Howe on managing change

Asked about the ongoing impact of Isak’s exit, Howe was open about the scale of the task facing his staff and squad.

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“It’s an ever-challenging thing.

“You lose a player like Alex…and let’s put this right, Liverpool paid the money they did because he’s an outstanding footballer, an unbelievable talent. We were privileged to have him for the years that we had him. We loved working with him.

“He was an outstanding player. When you take that player away from your team, it’s going to change the dynamics, that’s for sure. Then you have to try to find a way of not replacing him, but finding a player or players who can still make the team really effective.

“We’re still in that moment and we’ve been trying to do that all season. I think the guys who have come in have done a very good job.

“But we’re still finding ways to get the best out of the new players that we’ve signed without training, with very minimal time to do any work with them.

“There’s been video analysis, talking to them, which is great, but it’s not the same as getting the work on the training pitch.

“They’ve done really well and they’re trying to give the team the best that they have and we are trying to adapt.”

The tone is revealing. There is acceptance of the disruption, but also patience, a recognition that elite players leave marks that cannot be erased with a single transfer window.