Gary Lineker has stated how he would react to Alexander Isak’s refusal to play for Newcastle United if he were his teammate.
It is almost a month since reports emerged stating that the 25-year-old wanted to explore his options away from the Magpies this summer, but very few could have anticipated what was going to happen since then.
Alexander Isak is currently on strike from Newcastle United, with the hope that he can get a move to Liverpool this summer. In early August, Liverpool made a £110million bid for Isak that was quickly rejected by Newcastle, who are looking for around £150million for their star striker.
The Sweden international has not made a single appearance for Newcastle since May, having missed the entirety of pre-season due to a thigh problem and the subsequent transfer saga.
Newcastle lined up without Isak for their draw against Aston Villa on Saturday, and it looks very unlikely that he will be in the squad for their first home game of the season against Liverpool.
Alan Shearer has been very critical of Isak, and Lineker has now weighed in on the saga, sharing how he would feel if he were Isak’s teammate.
Alexander Isak looks on during a Premier League game between Manchester United and Newcastle United
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Gary Lineker criticises Alexander Isak for missing Newcastle United games
Isak is currently training away from his Newcastle teammates while the transfer saga is still ongoing. Despite that, Sandro Tonali says the Newcastle players are still mentally strong and will not let the outside noise affect them.
While he is very keen on the move away, it cannot happen without Newcastle signing at least one striker as his replacement. So as the days go by, the chances of him leaving Newcastle this summer become less likely.
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The transfer situation has been heavily publicised, and now, Lineker has become the latest pundit to weigh in on the situation.
“It’s a really messy situation he’s left them in,” he said on the Rest is Football.
“I know players want to move sometimes and clubs can be very difficult when they want you out, it’s often a two-way thing. If I was a teammate, I’d be very grumpy with him at the moment.
“If you’ve got three years left of your contract, you’ve signed that contract, you’ve just won a trophy for the first time – amazing season. I understand if Liverpool come in and you’re thinking, ‘I’m going to win the Premier League and I could win a Champions League’, I totally understand that. But downing tools to make it happen?
“He’s probably been told by his agent, ‘Listen, the only way you’re going to make this move happen is that you just say to them you’re not going to play. There are no circumstances,’ and you just think ‘really’.”
Newcastle United are still struggling to find Alexander Isak’s replacement
The plan always appears to have been for Newcastle to sign another top-quality striker in the event that Isak leaves. While Yoane Wissa is very keen to join Newcastle, he is seen as a replacement for Callum Wilson, rather than Isak.
Reports earlier in August stated that Newcastle were interested in Samu Aghehowa, but the 21-year-old has a £86m release clause, so it is tough to see the Magpies pay that sort of money.
Additionally, Samu celebrated by kissing the Porto badge after scoring in their Liga Portugal opener. This suggests that he is more than happy to stay at Porto for another year.
Elsewhere, Newcastle are still admirers of Goncalo Ramos of PSG. The 24-year-old scored 10 goals in 22 Ligue 1 appearances last season, though it remains to be seen whether he would be willing to make the move.
Ramos has publicly stated that he is staying at PSG, so the likelihood is that Newcastle will not be able to tempt him with a move to the North East.