Alexander Isak believes he has kicked his last ball for Newcastle United
Aaron Stokes is our Newcastle United Editor. Born and bred in the north-east, Aaron left Newcastle in 2017 to work in London for Reach PLC's national titles. After five years in the capital, he returned to take up his current role at The Chronicle in March 2022.
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Alexander Isak and head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Alexander Isak and head coach Eddie Howe
Alexander Isak’s drawn out transfer saga shows no signs of being resolved as the Tyneside power struggle between club and player continues.
Isak has undoubtedly backed himself, needlessly, into a corner. The £63m man has taken all his chips and placed them on Merseyside red.
But should Liverpool be unwilling to up their initial, underwhelming offer of £110m plus add-ons, Isak finds himself in limbo.
Stuck at a football club he is pushing to leave, left to face a fanbase who once worshipped him but now question that previous adoration.
Newcastle, however, may only be left with one option of their own if this sorry saga continues. If the transfer window ticks towards its conclusion with no revised Liverpool offer in sight, do they lower their valuation and reluctantly try and cash in?
Newcastle chiefs have little desire to sell their best players but going into the season with a lucrative talent who, according to the Athletic, is ‘adamant’ he has kicked his last ball for the club, provides a huge problem.
Eddie Howe wants the best players at his disposal - and does not want to lose Isak - but only if they themselves want to be involved.
Isak staying put but remaining frozen out offers nothing but a constant distraction, months of speculation over motivation, player morale, the future, his value and more. United are fighting on four fronts and need to pulling in the same direction as a collective.
The club, in that situation, are surely better to soften their not for sale stance, lower their firm £150m valuation and push to move the Swede out if his hardline stance continues.
Fans will want Newcastle to stick to their guns and play Isak at his own game. If he isn't willing to play for the club paying his wages, he should be made to suffer away from the group.
But in the world of profit and sustainability rules [PSR], money talks. Newcastle, as such, will not want to see the value of their prized asset fall off a cliff.
The big question revolves around whether the north east outfit can find not one but two new strikers in the final weeks of the summer market.
Confidence has grown that Yoane Wissa will be heading to Tyneside but an Isak departure means another top level forward addition will be required before the month is out.
Manage to pull off a double swoop at the top end of the pitch and suddenly Isak's exit becomes more palatable.
Newcastle have work to do on that front but insiders may be starting to reluctantly warm to the idea that the 25-year-old simply must be offloaded this summer.
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