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Quite a lot going on at Newcastle then.

Let's recap the best lines from Eddie Howe's news conference:

• Isak situation a 'Lose-lose situation for Newcastle'
• Howe has not seen Isak this week
• 'No doubt players would welcome Isak back'
• Isak can win supporters back
• 'Club working hard on transfers'

Does anybody else get the feeling the Alexander Isak saga just won't go away?

That's all from Eddie Howe, who must be sick of answering questions about Alexander Isak.

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on whether he spoke to Alexander Isak at the end of last season about leaving the club: "Me and Alex had conversations, yes I'm not going to deny that.

"Individual conversations are better off remaining private. Yes, we had conversations about his future."

More on Isak's character: This situation is regrettable. Not something we wanted or Alex wanted. I'm talking about his conduct every day, his professionalism, he is very committed, very driven, and very professional. Others can make their own opinion, but I'm giving you background about the player I know everyday."

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on whether he has tried to find a resolution in his conversations with Alexander Isak: "Of course, we want him training and playing with he team, that is our wish. But he's not, so it's not the desirable outcome for us at the moment until he is back playing.

"That's a sad situation for us. When I speak to him we are trying to find a positive solution all the time.

"I haven't seen him for five or six days but when I saw him he was good, he was normal Alex."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on the possibility of ending the transfer window without any additional signings: "That's possible. We are still actively in the market but any transfer has to be right. With PSR you are always trying to manage that situation. We have to be careful with what we do. We can't allow ourselves to go into a difficult moment when we are forced to sell a player like Elliot Anderson and Yakuba Minteh."

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on if Isak can rebuild his relationship with the fans: "I believe he can. I believe the supporters will always react on how a player plays and what he gives to the team. There are always two sides to every story.

"There is always more than even I will now as there are conversations that have taken place away from my understanding of it and I've been away on pre-season and have become detached from the situation.

"My job now is to support Alex, care for him and see where we are in a weeks time"

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak's statement and what he means for his future: "If Alex is to play for Newcastle again he has to be totally committed and I don't think it works any other way. That question is for another day but any player that puts on the shirt and streps out on to the pitch has to give his all for the team.

"My reaction [to his statement] was disappointment in that these things are being made public. For me all of these things should be face-to-face between club and player. It doesn't reflect well on the club or Alex and I think from the clubs perspective they felt they had to reply but for me it was a sad moment.

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike earlier this summer: "There's no doubt I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years. He's got really good qualities, and he showed that in his first Premier League game, he had a really good debut against Bournemouth.

"He's got really good movement, intelligent, good in the air, scores goals, scores off both feet. Our job will be to keep him quiet. He is going to be a threat this year."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on whether Newcastle need an independent figure to resolve the Alexander Isak situation: "I don't see it as black and white as that. We will s Alex in every way possible. We can't do that at the moment, the situation doesn't make that possible."

On whether the club's message has been strong all summer: "The club have had a very strong stance regarding Alex's situation all summer. There have been a lot of conversations between club and his representatives that I haven't been part of."

On whether he is saddened by the way the situation has played out: "Yeah. I don't think it had to be this way. It's disappointing I am having to speak about it every press conference at length and it's taking away form the football. We've got Liverpool. That's going to be a tougher game without any other distraction. The players have done very well to blank it all out bit it is there in the background and it's not helping us. It is regrettable we're in this situation."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on when the club can resolve the Alexander Isak situation: "I'm not a fortune teller, I've got no way of knowing what will happen in terms of getting some finality on the situation.

"The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United and it will do that in every situation. I think it's a lose-lose situation for us to a degree as I don't think we can come out of this winning.

"It's a difficult situation to manage in the sense of what he's contributed to the football club and how professional he has been. It's been an unfortunate couple of months that look like it's coming to an end soon."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on if he can trust Isak again: "Of course. Trust is earnt both ways and that has to be a relationship that you develop.

"I've gone on that journey with Alex so I don't think we have any issues on a footballing side at all. I hope I can work with him again and get him back to his very best."

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on transfer activity: "We are working hard on incomings, I wouldn't say we are close. We still have a little bit of time but that time will go really quickly.

"I think the squad is in a good place but we are still working on replacing Callum Wilson and that is the big area we are focusing on."

Manchester City

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Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has signed a new two-year contract extension until 2029.

The deal contains the option of another year.

Should City opt for the additional 12 months, it would take the centre-back's stay at the club to 10 years.

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on whether the players will welcome Alexander Isak back: "There is no doubt how the players will feel, they will feel the same way as I do. Alex is an outstanding player and a very good person and a good character. He wants to succeed in his career and this has been a really difficult situation for him and for the players that we have to see us without him. If Alex decided to come back and play for us the players would welcome him back."

Newcastle United

No team news from Eddie Howe. "As far as I know, everyone's alright," he said.

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on the atmosphere on Monday: "The first home game is always going to be electric. I love experience those nights with the energy that the crowd bring us and I have no doubt that this will be a really passionate display from the home support. We need to harness that and use it but not be reckless with it, we need to concentrate on the game and not get too emotional."

Newcastle United

Asked if the way the Alexander Isak saga has played out has saddened him, Eddie Howe said: "Yeah. I don't think it had to be this way."

Newcastle United

Howe on reintegrating Isak: "I think it's a conversation for another day. At the moment that is not an option for us so rather than talk hypothetical's, I'd rather talk when we get to that point and try and get the best for Alex and get the best for the team. Until the point, we are better off focussing on the players we have available for the team."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe says he believes Newcastle fans can forgive Alexander Isak if he comes back into the team.

"Yes I believe they can, the supporters will always react off how a player plays and what he gives the team," Howe said.

"There is always two sides to every story."