Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has summed up the Alexander Isak and Newcastle United situation perfectly.
The 25-year-old is still a Newcastle United player, but it remains to be seen for how much longer. Isak wants to leave Newcastle, with Liverpool eager to bring him to Anfield.
Liverpool’s first Isak bid, worth between £110million and £120million, was rejected by the Magpies. They are holding out for a fee of £150million. If that figure is not reached, a deal will not be done.
For Isak, he has the chance to go to the next level. He has been told time and time again that he is the best striker in the world, and now he has the opportunity to sign for one of the best teams in the world.
Carragher has sympathy for Newcastle United, admitting that he experienced similar when he was teammates with Steven Gerrard.
Alexander Isak celebrates scoring for Newcastle United against Liverpool.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak problem is similar to what Liverpool had with Steven Gerrard
During the latest episode of the Fan Debate on the Overlap YouTube channel, Carragher suggested that Isak has outgrown Newcastle United, just like Gerrard did with Liverpool.
However, Carragher explained that there is one key difference to Isak’s situation and what happened with Gerrard.
“I’ve had this at Liverpool,” he said.
“Sometimes a player outgrows the team. You’re a team who will fight to qualify for the Champions League. He can play in a team that can win it.
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“When that gap becomes too big, that’s when you’ve got a problem. It happened to us with Liverpool with Steven Gerrard, but we were lucky that he was a Liverpool fan and he was from the city. If Steven Gerrard wasn’t a Liverpool fan, he would’ve left, because he was here [up high] and the team was there [down low].”
Jamie Carragher is ‘almost disappointed’ with Alexander Isak
The Isak situation has turned into a bit of a circus.
It started with him missing the friendly against Celtic, then he missed the pre-season tour of Asia.
Now he is working on his own at the Newcastle United training ground away from his teammates, as his reputation at St James’ Park becomes more and more tarnished.
The way he has acted is poor, and Carragher has admitted that he is ‘almost disappointed’ in Isak for how the situation has played out.
“I’ve never been involved in a transfer, but I’d hate to think I would act like that,” he said.
“I’m not just talking about Isak. I’m talking about players trying to get out of clubs. You’re saying you’re injured when you’re not or you’re not turning up for training. I’m 99.9% certain I would never do that. That club have brought you over, they’re paying your wages, you’re a god to the supporters.
“For Newcastle fans, winning the Carabao Cup is like winning the Champions League. He is a god.
“I’m not saying he shouldn’t want to move. I can understand him saying to Eddie Howe, ‘I’ve been amazing, you can get a big fee for me, Liverpool is another level, they’re not happy to be in the Champions League, they want to win the Champions League’. I get that, but I don’t think he’s conducted himself really well and he’s going to lose that love he’s had. I’m almost disappointed.”
The situation is a real mess, and it remains to be seen when it will be resolved. Newcastle will not sell Isak without getting a replacement in, with Randal Kolo Muani a target for the Magpies.