Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has dismissed suggestions that the club would consider selling key players like Alexander Isak, amid speculation that Arsenal are interested in signing the £63million striker. Responding to comments from Arsenal legend Paul Merson, who claimed that the Gunners should "break the bank" to sign Isak in January, Howe stated: "It's the first I have heard (of Merson's claim) so I need to see the comments. But our players are loved by us and wanted by us."
Howe emphasized that the team's focus is on their upcoming games and delivering a strong season, rather than transfer speculation.
"We have massive games to come and we need them to perform. Their focus can only be on what they are delivering in the here and now, we can only control on what we can control," he said. "But I don't see that [Isak and Arsenal talk] being an issue for us, especially in this window. We have so many big games to come and we are very focused, and the players are focused on having a great season, that is all that concerns at the moment."
Howe has made it clear that there will be no favours exchanged with rival Premier League clubs when it comes to transfers.
He emphasised the competitive nature of the league and the importance of retaining top talent: "We are not looking to help anybody out that's for sure. It is a hard enough league as it is to be consistently successful. But we certainly need our best players here."
Meanwhile, Merson speculated on Sky Sports about potential big-money offers for Isak, suggesting: "Do Newcastle turn down £100m for [Alexander] Isak?" and adding "£150 [million], Arsenal will have the money, that takes Arsenal to another level."
When questioned about his reaction to comments from pundits like Merson, Howe admitted that while such remarks might have affected him in the past, he now considers them part of the job and largely irrelevant: "I think it comes with the territory now to be honest, maybe in my early days, that would have maybe had more of an impression on those comments, when I am in the position I am now you sort of ignore it and it is irrelevant.
"There will be so much talk, rumour and noise. You can't control it all. You can't even begin to try so you just have to try to ignore it and just focus on what you can control.
"He could be anything that he wants to be. He has a little bit of everything which makes him difficult to play against.
"I don't think there is one dimension of his game that he can't do. Teams will look at ways to stop him. His challenge is to find a way to hurt the opposition and find a way to improve."
