Newcastle United remain in limbo over Alexander Isak amid reported Liverpool interest.
Alan Pardew has shamed Alexander Isak for “doing bad things” to a “great football club” in Newcastle United.
A former Toon boss, the 64-year-old knows the feeling of losing a star striker to Liverpool at St James’ Park. In January 2011, Newcastle sold Andy Carroll just one month into Pardew’s reign as manager.
Carroll signed a five-year contract extension just weeks before the Reds came in with a record sum for a British player. Fast forward to the present and the Magpies are in a similar boat with Isak.
Alexander Isak downing tools
The Swede did not kick a ball in pre-season as he made his intentions clear about wanting to leave. Initially cited as a “thigh injury”, it soon became clear that Isak was angling for an exit.
Eddie Howe has excluded the 25-year-old from training with the first-team setup until further notice. He hinted at - while not confirming - the decision not to play was Isak’s when grilled by the media.
"We've had discussions and it's clear at the moment that we can't involve him with the group," Howe told reporters. "I don't know how long that will be for, but that's the latest."
"I'd want Alex to be playing today. I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us. Let me make that absolutely clear. There's no part of me that doesn't want that outcome, but I don't see the current situation changing for Aston Villa."
Alan Pardew on Alexander Isak saga
Speaking to talkSPORT, Pardew ripped into Isak for disrespecting a “great” football club. He said: "The transfer to me looks like it can't be done because Newcastle are going to dig their heels in now. I think they are angry. I would also be if I was on the Newcastle board. I would dig my heels in, so the fee could go really silly.
“The problem is, he's handled it so badly. He couldn't have handled it any worse. His agents and advisors have said to him to throw down the tools after serving that football club - a great football club by the way - and he's doing really bad things to hold them to ransom and more or less force a way out.”
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Pardew also sympathised with Howe while shedding light on how a manager must deal with the situation. He added: “Transfers take a course of their own. At first, it feels like it's going to happen, and the club feel that as well, and then suddenly, it turns, and I think Newcastle are moved into that area.”
“When you have your top striker, perhaps the fans’ No.1 player, making moves to transfer, how can you possibly try and close the gap? That makes the issue more compounded.
“Eddie has had to try and deal with it as diplomatically as possible. He’s almost tried to place himself in a neutral zone and say that it’s the board’s position. He has to protect Isak, and it’s making for very uncomfortable viewing.”
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