Kieran Trippier posts airport arrival message after Newcastle left ‘blind-sided’
Newcastle United’s transfer window continues to go from bad to worse as Eddie Howe’s players try to concentrate on their pre-season tour.
The Magpies’ summer has been a turbulent one with only Anthony Elanga signed to strengthen Howe’s first-team so far, and Newcastle have already missed out on a plethora of their top transfer targets.
James Trafford is the latest player to slip through Newcastle’s fingers as he closes in on a return to Man City from Burnley, and is set to join a long list of players who have rejected moves to St. James’ Park.
Newcastle missing out on the likes of Joao Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo among others has left Howe with a virtually identical starting XI to the one which ended last season, but that could become much weaker.
Alexander Isak’s open desire to leave Newcastle has left Howe “blind-sided” as the striker tries to force through a record-breaking move to Liverpool, throwing the Magpies’ transfer plans into further chaos.
Newcastle ‘looking forward’ to next steps amid transfer chaos
Isak’s absence from Newcastle’s pre-season tour has lead to claims that his “head has gone”, as Howe tries to navigate his way to a resolution with the wantway frontman while leading his side in pre-season.
Newcastle‘s results so far in pre-season haven’t done much to raise fans’ confidence, with a 4-0 win over fifth-tier Carlisle followed by a defeat of the same magnitude to Celtic before a 3-2 loss to Arsenal.
The Magpies’ slender defeat to Arsenal side took place in Singapore and Howe’s side next face a K–League XI and Tottenham Hotspur in South Korea, which the squad flew out to on Tuesday (29 July).
Kieran Trippier posted on his Instagram story from Singapore airport, with the message of; “Looking forward to the next week in South Korea” to Newcastle fans.
Isak impasse set to delay much-needed Newcastle transfers
Football Insider Verdict
Howe’s frontline was already without Callum Wilson before Isak made his desire to leave St. James’ Park clear this summer, and suggestions have been made that such situations are inevitable for Newcastle.
Defender Dan Burn exclusively told Football Insider that Isak’s exit in this manner would cause a great deal of upset within Newcastle’s squad, and the current impasse could delay their transfer plans further.
Yoane Wissa is still expected to complete his move to Newcastle after hitting Brentford with a similar bombshell to Isak, but it remains to be seen how long this transfer will take to complete as Howe tries to find a solution to the current malaise.