‘I pleaded with Eddie Howe to let me leave Newcastle like Alexander Isak – I don’t regret it’

Liverpool signing Alexander Isak was embroiled in the summer’s biggest transfer saga after burning his bridges with Newcastle, but he’s not the first turncoat Eddie Howe’s had to deal with on Tyneside

Jonjo Shelvey said he had no regrets urging Eddie Howe to let him leave Newcastle United like Alexander Isak did this summer. The Romford-born midfielder has enjoyed a successful career with the likes of Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Swansea City over the years.

But his longest stint with a club saw him represent the Magpies between 2016 and 2023, racking up 202 appearances across all competitions. Despite starting off strong on Tyneside, as a key part of Rafael Benitez’s EFL Championship-winning side in 2016/17, Shelvey eventually fell out of favour.

The club bolstered its midfield, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton emerging as preferred players, and in January 2023, Shelvey finally got his move away from St. James’ Park after deep discussion with Howe, who took the reins of the club a little over a year earlier.

READ MORE: Alexander Isak explains why he had to hold out for Liverpool transfer despite Newcastle furyREAD MORE: Alexander Isak has already left Liverpool after record transfer deadline day move

The now 33-year-old moved on to Nottingham Forest at the time but has since gone on to represent Caykur Rizespor, Eyupspor and Burnley while struggling to find his footing.

Despite how his career has played out after departing Tyneside, Shelvey admitted in 2023 that he had no regrets about his move away from Newcastle. He told The Guardian at the time: “It was hard leaving but I can’t say I regret leaving. I’m happy for whatever they [Newcastle] do.”

He added: “Eddie said he couldn’t let me go at first and then I sort of pleaded with him to let me go. He said he would sleep on it but then he said he would only let me go if they could get one in.

“I said I needed to leave for a fresh start and put my points across, and the next day he pulled me, we had a little chat and he granted my wish. Eddie said he wouldn’t stand in the way of my happiness.”

It appears as though the grass wasn’t any greener at the City Ground for Shelvey, however, who saw his maiden season plagued with injury before he fell out with manager Steve Cooper. He was omitted from Forest’s pre-season camp for 2023/24 and failed to receive an official squad number before he moved on to Turkey.

While Howe was quick to grant Shelvey’s wish to cut ties at St. James’ Park, it appears as though the Englishman took a completely different approach to Isak’s revolt this summer. The Swedish striker was omitted from Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia, instead opting to train alone with Real Sociedad.

Isak then publicly said that he hoped to explore his options away from Tyneside, before he was instructed to train alone and away from the first team upon his return to Darsley Park.

The 25-year-old then reportedly refused to ever turn out for the Magpies again, regardless of if he was able to secure a transfer ahead of deadline day, before he took to social media to accuse his club of breaking promises made to him and make clear the best course of action for all parties was to move on.

Despite Howe initially sharing his desire to retain Isak for the new Premier League season, his stance changed as the dramatic saga unfolded, to the point where the two reportedly didn’t speak for around two weeks as Isak missed the first three games of the Premier League season.

While Liverpool initially saw an opening offer of around £110million rejected for Isak at the turn of August, the Reds eventually managed to secure a deadline day swoop for the Swede to the tune of £125m, and his tenure at St. James’ Park came to a close.

Arne Slot now has a major headache on his hands as to how he deploys Isak in a squad already filled to the brim with talent, especially given how Hugo Ekitike has hit the ground running since his £79m move from Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as how well Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah are performing.

Howe, meanwhile, has welcomed two new strikers as replacements for an outgoing Isak. The club welcomed Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart for an initial £65m last month, before snagging Brentford’s Yoane Wissa in a £55m deadline day deal.

The club had resorted to utilising Anthony Gordon as a false-nine for their clashes with Aston Villa and Liverpool, before deploying William Osula against Leeds United. However, Howe will have numerous options up top when the Magpies return to action against Wolves on home soil come Saturday, September 13.

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