A RAGING Newcastle star had to be calmed down by a team-mate during a meeting about Alexander Isak’s future, reports say.
The Swede’s transfer saga dominated the summer window but it finally came to a close on deadline day.
GettyAlexander Isak left Newcastle for Liverpool after a drawn out saga[/caption]
Isak got his £130million move from Newcastle to Liverpool – having spent the past few weeks on strike to force it through.
But according to the Daily Mail, Toon bosses never ruled out the sale, while insisting it would have to come at the right price.
Liverpool‘s first approach of £110m was immediately rejected – but Newcastle were preparing for life without Isak.
They had already registered interest in Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike – with the latter instead joined Liverpool.
And they did agree deals for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa before allowing Isak to join Anfield in a British transfer-record deal.
But the damage had already been done for Isak – who refused to go on pre-season tour with Newcastle.
Following a meeting about the player’s future, it is claimed one Toon star in particular was so fuming he had to be calmed down by a team-mate.
While others were also sympathetic towards Isak’s desire to leave – having communicated it to the club at the end of last season.
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
Misses Newcastle’s first three games of season, including 3-2 defeat to Liverpool
Newcastle relent and will accept £130m with 24 hours of window left
Liverpool have £130m bid accepted on Aug 31
SEPTEMBER: Isak travels to Liverpool for medical on deadline day morning
Liverpool announce British record signing on deadline day at 9.30pm – two-and-a-half hours after transfer window closes
Takes No9 shirt at Anfield
Newcastle release blunt 37-word statement confirming exit
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There were efforts to keep Isak with Newcastle officials meeting him at his home before their 3-2 home defeat to Liverpool.
The striker welcomed co-owner Jamie Reuben into his home – but slammed the door on talks of a reconciliation.
Isak’s sister was said to have been staying with him during the saga – popping out to Waitrose for supplies.
With Newcastle having secured the services of Woltemade from Stuttgart and Brentford‘s Wissa – Isak was finally free to leave.
Liverpool agreed a deal worth £125m with £5m in solidarity payments to bring the wantaway forward to Merseyside.
And it brought a close to the summer window’s most storied chapter – with Newcastle confirming the deal in a very blunt statement.
It read: “Newcastle United can announce the sale of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a significant British record transfer fee.
“The Sweden international joined the Magpies from Real Sociedad in 2022 and made 109 appearances in all competitions.”
Isak, 25, said: “It’s a mixture of what the club is building.
“But what they’re building on top of what the club already is. The history of the club.
“Me getting the chance to be a part of this, I want to create history. I want to win trophies. That’s ultimately the biggest motivation for me.
“And I feel like this is the perfect place for me to grow even further and to take my game to the next level and help the team as well.
“I feel like this is the next step for me in my career. I’m super-happy that I’ve been given this chance and I’m very motivated to do something well with it.”
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