Eddie Howe has responded to any notion that Newcastle United will be prepared to entertain offers for star players like Alexander Isak - and has shut down arrogant claims from Arsenal legend Paul Merson that he should be top of the Gunners' wish-list.

The £63million striker is a target of the Emirates Stadium club but Howe has made it clear that the Magpies are not in the mood to help Premier League rivals. Merson had nonchalantly spoken of how Arsenal should "break the bank" and sign Isak in the January window much to the annoyance of the fanbase on Tyneside.

Howe, speaking at his pre-match press conference for the clash against Spurs, told Chronicle Live: "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.

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"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.

"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 had already revealed earlier in the season that rival Premier League clubs have no intention of helping Newcastle on transfers. And the Newcastle boss said other top-flight teams can now expect the same service back, he said: "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."

Merson had said on Sky Sports: "Do Newcastle turn down £100m for [Alexander] Isak?"

"£150 [million], Arsenal will have the money, that takes Arsenal to another level."

Howe is braced for more comments similar to Merson's throughout the window this month and when asked if he got annoyed by pundits like the Middlesbrough star, he said: "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."

Howe said that Isak can go on to hit any heights he wants at Newcastle and is excited about his future. Howe said: "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."