Former Liverpool forward Stan Collymore has shared his views on the Alexander Isak transfer saga after an explosive statement on Tuesday night
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United
Liverpool transfer target Alexander Isak(Image: Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Stan Collymore says Alexander Isak must hand in a formal transfer request if he is to be granted his dream move from Newcastle United for Liverpool.
And the former Reds striker, who became the most expensive player in British football history when he moved to Anfield 30 years ago for £8.5m from Nottingham Forest, says the “f****** up nature” of football may even see the wantaway Isak sign a new contract at St James’ Park if the transfer fails.
Liverpool had an offer of £110m rejected by the Magpies in early August after Isak had privately expressed his desire to leave the North East after three years.
Isak opted against joining his colleagues on their pre-season tour of the Far East in July by citing a minor thigh issue and he has trained alone since before being left out of Saturday’s goalless draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League. He is almost certain to be absent when the two teams meet at St James’ Park on Monday night.
The Sweden international went public with his determination to move to Anfield on Tuesday night, with a statement published on his Instagram account just minutes after he was confirmed as being part of the PFA Team of the Year for 24/25, a campaign where he scored 23 league goals and fired the Magpies to Champions League qualification and a first domestic trophy in 70 years in the Carabao Cup.
After Isak’s initial statement that spoke of broken promises and a desire to end his time at St James Park, former Reds forward Collymore entered the debate, posting on X: “A lot to unpack.
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“Firstly, he's under contract, one he willingly signed. Secondly, and I've experienced this as have a million players, I think he's alluding to (on signing that contract) the old 'do well and if someone offers £80m for you we'll let you go'. Answer to this of course is a buy out clause that both parties should maybe have entered into.
"Thirdly, he's doing something every modern (and I hate it) player does. Won't take the very old school route of transfer request as it means giving up a large chunk of bonus/loyalty/salary. In short, modern players want to leave, be paid on leaving and on signing for a new club. Cake meets eating it.
"If Newcastle said to him and his agent a year ago 'we'll let him go if he has a great season' but it wasn't written down, tough on Isak. If the player wants to leave but doesn't want to go on the transfer list, then that's the player wanting that cake and eating it.
"If he's desperate to leave, put in a request, that alerts every club on earth of his availability (if Newcastle accept it, and that should because no club wants a player who doesn't want to stay publicly/officially) he forfeits some cash but he's outta there pronto.
"Newcastle can play hardball and make him fulfill his contractual obligations but they'll lose money month on month plus they'll need a replacement who does want to play for Newcastle.
"I'd sack the agent if I'd received the advice he has, because his contract didn't have a 'if you do well you can go at £xxxx', he's basically been out of action for a couple of weeks (what's the agent doing to get him and club to agree an exit strategy???), an agent several weeks in should advise pulling the transfer list ripcord ('you're going to lose some dough but your next club will make it up') etc etc. And any public statement can be used in any tribunal against the player do advise him to keep it shut.
"P*** poor agent work, naive player, 'possible' reneging (pure speculation at this point) on handshake by club, a football transfer room 101 in how not to handle a febrile situation."
Newcastle later responded to Isak’s social media post insisting there was no agreement to let him leave this summer and said the conditions that would granted him his exit are now looking unlikely as they continue to meet resistance in their efforts to find an adequate successor.
Posted after Newcastle's statement was published later that evening, Collymore added: "So of course Newcastle United double down after Isak's statement and say conditions haven't been met for a sale, he'd be welcomed back and effectively saying they never said he could leave.
"The last sentence (if Isak was promised something) is going to take some reconciling because that's one side saying the other isn't telling the truth.
"But the f***** up nature of football is such that who'd be surprised at Isak signing a new contract in 5 days time, smiling and it was ‘a miscommunication’. The Saudis (Newcastle’s owners) after all can throw cash at him from all sorts of angles.
"From a suitors perspective, it's simple. Pay 130-150 mill or back the f*** off. And at that price point I think if it's Liverpool it may be the later. Not convinced they need him at that value."