'No chance' - Eddie Howe offers fresh Alexander Isak transfer update after Newcastle beaten by Arsenal in pre-season friendly

Days after Isak expressed his desire to leave Newcastle this summer, Howe's team fell to a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in Southeast Asia on Sunday. The Sweden international is not with the Magpies due to a thigh problem, and now manager Howe has added that the 25-year-old will not join them in Singapore.

When asked about the likelihood of Isak linking up with the Newcastle squad in the coming days, Howe replied: "No, no chance."

The former Bournemouth boss added: "Of course, we're not deluded. We know that we need to bring players in, we've known that for a long time. At the tail end of last season, we did all the work we wanted. It’s been a challenging transfer window, let’s see what we can do.”

Newcastle have been rocked by Isak's desire to leave but reportedly want around £150 million ($201.5m) for his services. Liverpool are keen on recruiting the Swede, and so are Saudi Pro League teams, although a move there is less likely. If Isak is sold, Newcastle need to act swiftly in the transfer market to replace him and strengthen the squad.

While this Isak transfer saga rumbles on, Newcastle's pre-season campaign continues with fixtures against a South Korean K-League XI on Wednesday, followed by a clash with Tottenham next Sunday.