Eddie Howe 'not party to talks' with Alexander Isak at his home as Newcastle boss admits wantaway striker 'would have made a difference' in 'gutting' defeat to Liverpool

Co-owner Jamie Reuben and director Jacobo Solis, from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, met with Sweden international Isak ahead of the Magpies’ Premier League clash with Liverpool - with the 25-year-old forward having spent much of the summer pushing for a big-money transfer to Anfield.

Having blocked Isak from heading for the exits, Newcastle want a prized asset to return to full training and Howe’s selection plans. They are ready to put a new contract in place, with the terms of a sale - which include bringing in two replacements and Liverpool parting with a British record transfer fee - not being met.

The Daily Mail claims that a meeting with Isak represents “a step in the right direction”. Howe, though, says he is “not party to talks that have been happening”. He is, however, eager to see Isak rejoin Newcastle’s ranks after picking up just one point from meetings with Aston Villa and Liverpool.

Howe said after seeing his side suffer a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Liverpool, with 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha netting a 100th-minute winner for the Reds in a game that saw Anthony Gordon sent off for the hosts: “The quality of Alex, I think he would have made a difference in the two games. But the team has functioned well, you can’t carry anyone. It was a great performance. The first half was very us, high octane, front-foot football. The only thing missing was goals.

“The second half was really well executed by the players. I cannot fault them at all. They gave so much to the game. I’m absolutely gutted we have noting to take from it. We have shown our fighting spirit and put the distractions around us away. We’d just like the results to show for that.”

Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan was at St James’ Park to watch the Magpies face Premier League champions Liverpool, with big hitters on Tyneside doing their bit to bring the distracting Isak saga to a close. Howe added: “The ideal from everyone is we want clarity. We want the narrative to change. His (Al-Ruamayyan’s) presence is much appreciated from my perspective. He is the owner, he is the most important person in terms of any decisions we make.”

Newcastle will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to newly-promoted Leeds. The summer transfer window will then close on September 1, with it yet to be determined where Isak will be when that deadline passes.