It's not just those associated with Newcastle United who feel let down with Alexander Isak's conduct this summer. The Swedish striker, who has been the subject of a $148 million (£110M) rejected bid from Liverpool, is attempting to engineer a move away from St James' Park.
Isak has been training alone after failing to join the Magpies’ pre-season tour of Asia. He didn't play on Saturday either as Newcastle began their Premier League campaign with a goalless draw at Aston Villa, where they failed to score against 10 men.
Unsurprisingly, his stance has angered the Magpies' hierarchy and the club's supporters, who have labeled the 25-year-old as greedy and ungrateful. Key figures associated with Liverpool have also expressed disappointment with Isak's behavior, which could result in some awkwardness should he eventually sign for the Reds. Here's what some Liverpool icons have said about the Isak transfer saga…
Jamie Carragher
The most high-profile member of the Liverpool media contingent believes Isak has handled his desire to leave Newcastle badly. The Sky Sports pundit told the i Paper: “Transfers happen every summer but I don’t think you should ever go toxic or nuclear where you refuse to play or train. That may be what forces the move in the end, so who am I to say it’s wrong? But I just don’t like it.
“They’re paying his wages, they’ve been great to you, you’ve been great for them, just keep training, keep playing and hope a deal gets done.”
Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports
Jamie Carragher isn't impressed with Isak's conduct (Image: Sky Sports)
Meanwhile, Carragher has voiced his concerns about Newcastle's $203M (£150M) valuation on The Overlap, stating: “It will be an amazing signing. But from a Liverpool fan point of view, I don't want the club to spend £150M on Isak.”
He also warned that signing Isak for such a hefty fee could negatively impact another summer recruit, Hugo Ekitike. Carragher went on to say: "There's something about Liverpool buying a striker [Ekitike] for £80M ($108M), and he's a back-up. There's something about it that doesn't sit right to me."
Dietmar Hamann
Ex-Liverpool and Newcastle midfielder Hamann agrees that £150M is too steep a sum for Isak. The German said via Casino Sites: “I think it'll be very hard for Isak to go back to Newcastle now. Even if he doesn't join Liverpool, they've got to find a way of trying to integrate him back into the team.
"I suppose he will end up with Liverpool. But how are they going to play then? That remains to be seen. I wouldn't pay £150M.
"I think £150M is a spicy price tag for him. He's a very good player. We know he can score goals in the Premier League, but I wouldn't mind if Liverpool start the season with Ekitike up top.”
Hugo Ekitike celebrates
Dietmar Hamann is happy with Hugo Ekitike (Image: PA)
John Barnes
Another player who wore both clubs’ colors in his distinguished career, Barnes, isn't impressed with Isak's behavior. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “I am not a big fan of it. If you are playing for a club, you have a responsibility to be a good team-mate and character, the fans have been great to you, but this is modern football.
“It could work in favor for Liverpool in terms of him coming, but, after the club has served him well, there are ways to do something. I don't like the idea of players not training or turning up for something if they want to move. But this is modern football and we have to get used to it.”
John Barnes looks on
John Barnes is disappointed in Isak (Image: PA)
Michael Owen
Former Reds and Magpies striker Owen has defended Liverpool's stance in the transfer stand-off, stating: “This is not a strange scenario. It's a high-profile scenario, but it's the same scenario as what happens all the time.
“There are a lot of simple things that go into the discussion. From Newcastle's point of view, they've got a player who's under contract, and they've got to weigh up the balance of the finances, what they could receive, maybe having an unhappy player, or maybe keeping someone against his will.”
Michael Owen looks into the distance
Michael Owen insists there is nothing strange about the Isak situation (Image: Getty Images)
John Aldridge
Instead of focusing on Isak, former Reds star Aldridge has criticized Newcastle's handling of the situation, labeling their £150M valuation “ludicrous". In his Liverpool Echo column, Aldridge wrote: “This is not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Isak is a top striker but that sort of fee for a player who clearly wants to leave and has even gone on strike to get it over the line I find incredible.
“It's a situation that has not been handled well up at Newcastle but even their Saudi Arabian owners must realize it might be for the best to move him on and reinvest that money.”
Kevin Nolan celebrates with Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll never wanted to leave Newcastle for Liverpool (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Andy Carroll
Carroll's transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool in 2011 came under very different circumstances, as he didn't actually want to leave his childhood club. The forward, now 36 and playing for Dagenham and Redbridge, has criticized Isak's stance, claiming he has cut ties with the Magpies' supporters.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Carroll said: “The way he's playing his cards at the minute, the Newcastle fans are not going to back him. He's not going to help himself and it's a shame because he's such a good player and every Newcastle fan wants him to stay.
“It's not really the same as me because it's not his club. The Geordies took him in and made him one of their own but when he wants to go, that's his mind changed."