United have made their position very clear and the rest of the Premier League should be grateful
Football content editor for Chronicle Live, Sunderland Live, Gazette Live, Leeds Live, Yorkshire Live and Hull Live. A North East native, he has been working in sports journalism since 1995. Stuart has worked on the Sunday Sun, Chronicle and the Journal since move from the Gateshead Post in 1999.
Alexander Isak's relationship with Newcastle United fans appears to be irreparable
Alexander Isak's relationship with Newcastle fans appears to be irreparable
There's only one way to deal with bullies - stand up to them. And that's exactly what Newcastle United have done by releasing a cool, calm and collected statement in the face of Alexander Isak's latest attempt to engineer a transfer away from St James' Park.
The Swedish striker issued a statement last night where he spoke of promises made by the club being broken, and underlining his desire to leave United this summer.
Newcastle responded by insisting no such commitments had been made, and reminding the Swede that he is still under contract.
We may be no closer to a resolution despite the statements from both parties, but United's stance is now crystal clear.
As for the broken promises? Well, in truth we don't know what's been said behind closed doors and what pledges have been made. Only Isak, his representatives and the club's hierarchy know what conversations have been held in private.
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We can only speculate, but it feels as though it boils down to money, pure and simple.
Promises of silverware? Newcastle won the Carabao Cup. European football? United are back in the Champions League for the second time in Isak's three years at the club.
Big-name signings? Perhaps things haven't gone to plan here - although the four new players have all undoubtedly improved the squad - but the irony is Isak's transfer stance has made United's job that much harder in the window.
So unless someone has promised Isak that Newcastle would be winning Premier League titles by now - and he would have been daft to believe that - then surely it comes down to not getting the money he felt he has been promised.
On one hand, he may have a point. If Newcastle value him at £150m, or in other words one of the world's most expensive players, then surely he has a right to demand he is paid accordingly?
If Newcastle are unwilling, or unable to offer astronomical wages, then others can and will.
But of course that is unlikely to create anything in the way of sympathy from a fanbase who spend their hard-earned cash following the club up and down the country - and across Europe too.
Newcastle's statement makes their position perfectly clear. They do not believe that any promise has been broken as far as allowing Isak to leave the club this summer is concerned.
They have pitched it perfectly, referencing the 'family' of the squad and leaving the door open to his return to the fold.
There is no talk of recriminations, accusations or finger pointing. Instead, they have simply outlined their stance - one that few would disagree with - or wanting to retain their best players, or at the very least receiving what they feel is a suitable offer.
Liverpool, nor any other club, have yet to get anywhere near that.
So what should they do? Cave in and allow him to leave just because he wants to? Ignore the three remaining years on his contract just because Liverpool have fluttered their eyelashes in Isak's direction?
What message would that send out to the current squad, future transfer targets, head coach Eddie Howe and the thousands who pay to watch the side each and every week?
Let's be clear - Newcastle's statement may be calm and collected, but they are sending a loud message to the so-called Premier League big boys.
They will not be bullied into selling their top players to anyone. They wlll not be cow-towed into begrudingly accepting that better possibilities await elsewhere.
Liverpool is a fine football club with incredible fans. Arne Slot showed what a class act he is by graciously accepting defeat in the Carabao Cup final in March.
But if they, or anyone else, think they can snap their fingers and cherry-pick the best talent from elsewhere, then they have had a rude awakening thanks to Newcastle's stance.
It's bad enough the PSR restrictions have hampered United's bid to close the gap between themselves and the more established sides, who appear content that the rules hinder anyone trying to climb the slippery slopes to get on a level footing, never mind overtake them.
This is a stance for which the rest of the Premier League should applaud Newcastle for.
Isak may not like it, but I think we're beyond caring what he thinks.