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Former Liverpool star Stewart Downing believes Eddie Howe has been let down by Newcastle as the saga surrounding striker Alexander Isak continues.
The Magpies opened their Premier League campaign last weekend against Aston Villa without their star striker, with Isak's camp having told Newcastle the Swedish forward has no intention of playing for the team ever again. Liverpool has made a bid for Isak this summer, offering £110 million ($149 million).
However, the Magpies are adamant that they will not sell the striker for anything less than £150 million ($204 million), a figure Reds legend Jamie Carragher believes the club should not spend.
Without Isak, Newcastle started the new season by fielding Anthony Gordon up front, flanked by Harvey Barnes on the left and new signing Anthony Elanga on the right.
While the game against Villa finished 0-0, there were promising signs from Howe's side on the pitch, which was a surprise to some, given how much the talk around Isak has dominated the headlines this summer.
Newcastle is trying to bring in Brentford's Yoane Wissa but has been unable to strike a deal with the Bees. The 28-year-old did not feature in Brentford's 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest and looks set to leave the club this summer.
However, even if Newcastle do land Wissa, there is no guarantee they will sell Isak to Liverpool. They let Callum Wilson leave on a free this summer, meaning they need to land another forward should they begin to entertain notions of selling the Swede.
Finding a striker to come in to replace Isak has been tough work for Newcastle, who held an interest in Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Benjamin Sesko, only for the former two to choose to sign for Chelsea, while the latter spurned the Magpies advances to join Manchester United.
And speaking to Flashscore, former Liverpool winger Downing believes boss Howe has been let down by the club's inability to find a replacement for its star man, forcing him to operate with his hands tied.
"I was excited about Newcastle United," Stewart Downing said via Flashscore.
"I thought they've got a bit of money with some big backing, but they've had a bit of a terrible transfer window really even before the Alexander Isak saga rumbling on.
"That’s not helped them at all. I'd have to probably rule them out. Eddie Howe had the England thing lingering around him, but he's carried on at Newcastle and I think he's been let down a bit, to be honest.
"I think everyone knew at the start of the window that he's definitely going to Liverpool. It's probably gone on too long. I can understand why they're dragging it out.
"They want top money for him because he's a big part of how they play, but how are they going to replace him?
"It’s great for Liverpool if they sign him, and that makes them even stronger, but it’ll weaken Newcastle so much so I can understand Eddie Howe’s frustrations.
"If they sell Isak, they haven’t got anyone they can go to and replace him with of that quality."
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