Clinching a deal for Benjamin Sesko will put United in a strong position over Alexander Isak's future
Benjamin Sesko (left) and Alexander Isak
Benjamin Sesko (left) and Alexander Isak
When I was but a bairn, shorter than a corner flag, the Hokey Cokey was a much-loved dance at every family party.
It went: "You put your left leg in, your left leg out. In, out, in, out, shake it all about." Well of late it feels like every Geordie has been doing the Hokey Cokey dancing to the tune of Alexander Isak.
In, out. In, out we have gone with Isak pulling the strings. First he was out at Glasgow for the Celtic friendly followed by Newcastle's Far East tour. Then he was in at San Sebastian on his lonesome doing a few exercises after recovering from his 'injury'.
Next Liverpool were said to be out of the running having had a formal bid of £110m turned down by United. Finally it was rumoured they were back in with United having launched a £69m charge to try and nick Benjamin Sesko from the clutches of Manchester United. Am I going too quickly for you? Are you keeping up? Following all this?
Honestly it would all be farcical if it wasn't so critically important to everyone who loves NUFC.
In out,in out. It's all about the domino effect. Have you ever been in a chain when selling your house? If you have you'll get it. One thing depends on another. Liverpool will only be back for Isak if United sign a replacement and Sesko is seen as that replacement.
The transfer steamroller has flattened us all time and again as Isak has worked himself. He has come out with no credit whatsoever the way he has gone about his business encouraged by his agent.
United have been forced to fight a rearguard action to desperately try and steady a boat rocking in mountainous seas. They have had to be reactive instead of proactive but as the dust starts to settle (it is, isn't it?) perhaps the black-and-whites can belatedly wrestle back control.
In Sesko they will get the quality man they require if all goes according to Geordie plan at long last and they could then play hardball with both Isak and Liverpool. You can now dance to our tune, guys, if you want to conclude business.
When all this depressing business first started a top, top scout who is a good friend of mine forecast straight off that Isak would eventually go and suggested that a Slovenian striker called Sesko was the best replacement. He pointed out that Sesko plays in a similar way to Isak but "is a bit more physical".
I'll settle for that. A disgruntled player is not a player at all and we will live without Alexander Isak. Aye, live and prosper.
By the way if it does become 'Isak out, Sesko in' it should not be the end of the centre-forward merry-go-round. United will still be left with their original problem, no back up in case of injuries, still a one-man band. Therefore the Mags ought to push on in their pursuit of Yoane Wissa. Money would not be a problem with the millions winging our way from Anfield.
If there was one piece of reassuring optimism - one piece of concrete joy - amid all the mayhem over the weekend it was provided by Anthony Gordon.
At a time when we Geordies have been living in football's desert Gordon's frank and honest Press conference was like a drop of cool water on a parched tongue.
He candidly admitted that his head was turned last season after Liverpool did what they have repeated with Isak and dropped enticing words into his brain that they wanted to sign him. His mind thus confused, Gordon failed to perform to his usual level. We saw it and he has now confirmed it.
What has delighted me at a time when good news is scarce on the ground is that Anthony tells us all such disruptiveness is now firmly in his past and that, having had a rare rest this summer, he is bursting to go full throttle come the new season. Fab, because what a player he is when running optimistically and relentlessly at the opposition.
What a pity Isak hasn't listened to Gordon and absorbed sound advice because the grass is not always greener over in the other field.
As for the current chaos a lot of water will flow under the Tyne Bridge before the transfer window closes.
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