Alexander Isak was the target of angry chants from Newcastle fans at full-time of draw at Aston Villa but Eddie Howe says he could still come back into the fold
Eddie Howe has said the door remains "well and truly open" for Alexander Isak to return to the Newcastle fold despite the club's fans making their feelings towards the wantaway striker clear at the end of their scoreless draw away to Aston Villa.
Sweden striker Isak continues to stay away from the first-team squad as he attempts to force a move out of St James' Park and angry Toon supporters chanted "There's only one greedy *******," at full-time.
Liverpool have had one bid for Isak rejected and it remains unclear whether they will return with an improved offer before the deadline at 7pm on September 1. But that has not stopped Isak from digging his heels in as he attempts to extract himself from a club where he was previously on the cusp of hero status.
He has three years remaining on his contract and has continued to receive his £140,000 per week salary despite not even training with his team-mates in recent weeks. Isak continues to work alone at the club's training ground and has even moved out of his residence on Tyneside.
But speaking after a game in which he hailed his available players for their performance, Howe said of the summer's biggest transfer saga: "Nothing's changed. The door is well and truly open but he has to decide what he wants to do.
"We would like a resolution. The ownership, everyone, the players we have, want that clarity. You don't need any distraction. I'm not in control of that. There's only one person in control of that."
Asked if he means Isak, Howe added: "Alex is in control of what he does. I'm not in control of him." And in terms of Isak being fined for not being part of the matchday squad, Howe was unable to add clarity when adding: "Other people deal with that issue. I'm concentrating on the team."
Irrespective of Isak's future, Newcastle remain eager to add to their squad by September 1's deadline, with Jacob Ramsey set to be announced as a £40m from Saturday's opponents.
Howe continued: "We're actively looking in the market. We're working hard to bring players in, more out of hope than expectation."