Newcastle United are facing an uphill battle in their efforts to get Alexander Isak back into first-team training, the forward is keen on a move to Liverpool.
Many fans may not have seen a situation like it. A player who has gone on strike after being told he will not be allowed to leave the club he is contracted to for another three years.
Alexander Isak has not been seen playing for Newcastle United since May, with the 25-year-old struggling with a thigh issue before reports emerged of his intention to leave the club this summer.
It is widely known that Liverpool are seriously interested in Isak, but their early-August bid of £110million was deemed nowhere near enough for the forward who scored 27 goals in all competitions last season.
Isak is not attending the PFA’s annual gala due to the transfer speculation, but he will become the first player to leave the Magpies for Liverpool in almost a decade if the deal does come off.
Georginio Wijnaldum chips Simon Mignolet to make it 2-0 in a Premier League game between Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Mark Leech Sports Photography/Getty Images
Georginio Wijnaldum left Newcastle United for Liverpool in 2016
While the summer has been bleak for Newcastle, things were far worse in 2016. The Magpies had just been relegated, and were still owned by Mike Ashley, whose poor decisions had led to their drop down to the Championship.
A silver lining was that Newcastle still had Rafa Benitez and had been able to keep the majority of their squad from the previous season. For a while, it looked as though Newcastle were going to keep Georginio Wijnaldum and play him in the Championship, but Liverpool came calling, and he joined the Reds for a fee of £25million.
Newcastle fans look back on Wijnaldum’s time with mixed emotions. The Dutchman only spent one season on Tyneside, failing to score away from home even though his form at St James’ Park was brilliant.
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Nine years on, Wijnaldum is still one of Newcastle’s biggest sales, but the fee Isak could go for would completely obliterate that.
Wijnaldum now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, but enjoyed spells at Roma and PSG after leaving Liverpool.
Alexander Isak will hope for as much success as Georginio Wijnaldum if he signs for Liverpool
Signing under Jurgen Klopp, Wijnaldum became a regular starter at Liverpool and reaped the benefits of playing under the legendary manager.
Things will be different for Isak if he is to move this summer, with Arne Slot taking the reins from Klopp last year and winning the Premier League at his first attempt.
Having seen how well they played last season, Isak will no doubt be keen to get his move to Merseyside done quickly so he can get a taste of success.
Wijnaldum set the precedent of how to make a name for yourself away from Newcastle, but it will be a different tale for Isak, who is already a household name.
The Dutchman won several trophies at Liverpool, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
It cannot be stated enough that Newcastle are not actively looking to sell Isak, and will only consider letting him go if they can sign two strikers before the summer transfer window closes.