Eddie Howe admits relationship with Alexander Isak became strained this summer as striker pushed for move away from Newcastle United
Don't worry, we're at the tail end of talking about Alexander Isak now, after a summer of talking about nothing but the Sweden striker.
Alexander Isak went on strike to force a move away from Newcastle United, ultimately getting what he wanted when Liverpool rocked up with £125 million to take him away.
It was a long, drawn-out saga that dominated the conversation in and around Newcastle, overshadowing anything positive that might have happened in the summer.
Thankfully, Newcastle were able to recruit well and put together a really good transfer window despite all the background noise.
Eddie Howe finally admitted that his relationship with Isak changed over the summer
Eddie Howe remained diplomatic throughout the summer despite being pressed by the media at every opportunity for some sort of juicy comment on the situation.
Now that a line has been drawn under everything and we all know where we stand, Craig Hope took his opportunity to ask Eddie Howe about the relationship between him and Isak over the summer, with the gaffer finally admitting that there was tension.
"Alex and I always enjoyed a great relationship. I loved working with him and I hope he loved working with us. We helped him become the player who departed us today and he helped us achieve some important milestones. The moment he went on strike our relationship did change and that was a turning point in our relationship. Communication became difficult from that point onwards."
As far as an Eddie Howe response goes, this was the gaffer going wild
Eddie Howe refused to go further into it, which is understandable, but in Eddie Howe speak, that was pure resentment and aggression.
It was inevitable that Howe would have to face questions on Isak today, given that it was his first press conference since he finally moved, but the fact that the Isak questions came late on and were relatively few does suggest that things are now moving forward.
Hopefully, this will now be the end of it until Newcastle head to Anfield next year.
