ALEXANDER ISAK’S transfer saga is a “f***ing mess” and his agent should be “sacked on the spot”, claims Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.
Isak, 25, is locked in a tense stand-off with his club having gone on strike in an attempt to secure a move to Liverpool.
GettyAlexander Isak is desperate to leave Newcastle[/caption]
GettyAlan Shearer is unimpressed with the Swedish star[/caption]
The Swede released a bombshell statement last night, claiming that the Toon had “broken promises” over a transfer away.
Newcastle swiftly responded, denying that they ever made such a commitment.
Toon idol Shearer, 55, has been left baffled by the whole sorry episode.
Speaking to Betfair, the former St James’ Park hero said: “I mean, oh my God, what a f***ing mess his agent has made of this, honestly.
“If I was him, I’d get his agent in a room and sack him on the spot immediately, because he is meant to be giving him the advice to sign that six‑year deal and there’s no get‑out clause. I mean, it’s ridiculous.
“And to take anyone’s word in football… it’s nonsensical to say that someone said, ‘Oh, I’ll be able to get out at the end of the season.’ Really? I mean, come on.”
Isak is currently refusing to play or train despite having three years remaining on his lucrative Magpies contract.
On the striker’s antics, Shearer added: “It doesn’t sit right with me, I don’t like it. I don’t like what (Yoane) Wissa’s doing at Brentford, even if Newcastle were to sign him.
Isak to Liverpool transfer saga timeline
JANUARY: First links to Liverpool emerge
FEBRUARY: £150million record fee mooted
MARCH: Isak denies Newcastle contract talk
APRIL: Eddie Howe hails Isak as “very professional.”
MAY: Howe insists Isak will not be sold
Last match in Newcastle shirt
JUNE: Transfer links to Liverpool heat up
JULY: Flies with Newcastle for Austria training camp
Left out of Celtic friendly
Liverpool hijack Toon’s Hugo Ekitike deal after making Isak enquiry
Doesn’t travel for pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea, citing injury
AUGUST: Training by himself at Newcastle
Liverpool have £110m bid rejected
Isak stops training and goes on strike
Moves out of his apartment
Releases angry statement blasting ‘trust has been lost’
Newcastle respond by insisting he won’t be sold unless it benefits club
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“It’s not a good look on a player or an agent to not go out and train and not go out and play when you have a contract behind you. It’s not a good look and it’s not a good thing to do.”
Isak has seemingly burned his bridges at St James’ Park.
But Shearer still thinks there could be a way back for him in Geordieland.
The former England captain continued: “If he were to apologise and get back into the group before the end of the transfer window, then there would be a way back for him.
“But if he’s still here after the transfer window, I can’t see how you come back from that. He clearly wants to get out and is willing to do anything to do that.
“The club obviously want what they want and what Eddie (Howe) wants, and they’ve clearly said that is to have a world‑class player back into their squad for however long.
“Maybe that’s a season, whatever it is, because Isak needs to be playing football. He can’t sit and rot in the reserves for six to twelve months.
“It’s very, very messy and it’s not helping anyone, least of all Eddie Howe and the players, which are the most important thing.”
Alexander Isak’s full statement
“I’m proud to be recognised by my fellow professionals with a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the season for 2024-25.
“First and foremost I want to thank my teammates and everyone at Newcastle United who has supported me along the way.
“I’m not at the ceremony tonight. With everything going on, it didn’t feel right to be there.
“I’ve kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn’t reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.
“The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time.
“To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
“When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue.
“That’s where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.”
Shearer’s former Toon team-mate Michael Owen has a different stance on Isak.
Owen, who famously does not see eye-to-eye with his former team-mate and manager Shearer, told Chronicle Live: “This whole scenario is an interesting one because nine times out of 10 when a move comes about it’s normally a club forcing a player and nobody’s bothered, nobody says anything despite any kids that are in school or any families that have settled in an area or anything else like that.
“Nobody cares really about a footballer. But when it’s on the other foot, it’s really interesting to see that everybody, you know, the whole world goes into meltdown and how dare somebody try and force a move through? I’m not going to sit here and criticise Isak.
“I wouldn’t have done that myself in terms of the actions he’s taken, but I do get that he’s a great player that wants to get to the top of his game and he’s obviously not being allowed the move that he’s desperate for.
“And you get one short career and he’s wanting to join probably the best team in the world at the moment.
“I get it from his point of view.
“It’s just a sad situation when it’s played out in the world’s press and he’s obviously not coming out well, let’s say, from a reputational point of view.”
PAMichael Owen has a different stance on Isak’s behaviour[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
