Former Premier League star Chris Sutton has called out Newcastle United man Alexander Isak for his refusal to play for the first team in the hope he can secure a move to Liverpool.
The transfer saga has lasted the entirety of the summer, and even longer if you include the links to Arsenal in January.
Alexander Isak has not made an appearance for Newcastle United since May, having missed all of pre-season and the opening three games of the Magpies’ season. Seven points have been dropped already, but one could argue that Newcastle would be in a much better position if they had the goal-scoring quality of the 25-year-old in their squad.
New signing Nick Woltemade watched on from the stands at Elland Road during Newcastle’s goalless draw against Leeds United, where William Osula led the line for the very first time for the Magpies. The Dane failed to impress, leaving many wondering why Isak has left the club in their current position.
Isak wants to move to Liverpool, but Chris Sutton has given him the hairdryer treatment over his handling of the situation.
Alexander Isak shoots during a Newcastle United Training Session
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Chris Sutton brands Alexander Isak ‘disgraceful’ for Newcastle United omission
With the transfer window closing on Monday evening, Isak has very little time to get the move away he is so desperate for. There have been reports of a second bid being prepared by Liverpool, but as it stands, there has been nothing official about a new offer.
Despite that, Isak is still hopeful his move to Liverpool will come to fruition, but time is running out. If the move fails to happen, Isak will be left feeling embarrassed and will ultimately look very silly in a situation he had very little control over.
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Geordie Boot Boys understand Newcastle want to sign another striker before the transfer window closes. Still, the situation could also depend on whether Isak’s exit is a genuine possibility on deadline day.
Isak will have a tough job of regaining the trust of his teammates should he fail to join Liverpool and be forced to reintegrate into first-team training, but Sutton believes the damage has already been done.
“If Alexander Isak doesn’t get the move he’s going to have to try and integrate his way back into the team,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“He’s going to have to play. Other than that what’s he going to do? Rot? He doesn’t have a choice.
“He should never, ever have thrown his toys out of the pram. Disgraceful.”
Alexander Isak has completely ruined a promising summer for Newcastle United
It cannot be denied that Newcastle have had a good summer transfer window. Five senior signings who are immediate improvements on those who have left the club already.
However, the talk of the summer will not be on the business they have done; it will be on Isak. For weeks, Eddie Howe has been bombarded with questions about the striker to the point that he has taken himself out of the situation both emotionally and physically.
This summer was supposed to be huge, with Isak at the forefront. The club were going to enter talks over a new contract with the Sweden international, and he was almost guaranteed the No.9 shirt.
Despite that, he had to go and ruin it all for himself. Isak has completely lost the trust of the Newcastle fans, who now chant about him in a negative light in the stands.
The start of this season should have been exciting, but with Isak acting the way he is, harmony is down within the squad and the fanbase. Thankfully, Woltemade is a Newcastle player, so Howe will have another quality striker to use once the international break is over.