Alexander Isak’s efforts to force a move to Liverpool have taken a bitter turn after he and Newcastle both aimed furious statements at each other in one of the league’s greatest transfer sagas
13:02, 20 Aug 2025
Alexander Isak wants to join Liverpool in a British record transfer
Alexander Isak wants to join Liverpool in a British record transfer(Image: Getty Images)
Alexander Isak’s stand-off with Newcastle is one of the most intriguing transfer sagas in many years.
The Swede’s attempts to be forever remembered for his summer strop are matching the efforts of the league’s former icons. After effectively going on strike, Isak couldn’t bite his tongue any longer as he issued a break-up paragraph to Newcastle. But it was very much, it’s you, not me.
For the neutrals, it’s pure popcorn munching entertainment as the 25-year-old attempts to upset and alienate as many people as possible.
And here, the Daily Star Sport look at ten of the greatest transfer sagas of all-time, amid Isak trying his best to feature top of the future version of this list.
Steven Gerrard to Chelsea
Steven Gerrard handed in a transfer request at Liverpool weeks after winning the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool were so far out of the title picture in 2005, they finished 37 points behind Chelsea, and Gerrard had had enough.
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The boyhood Red showed how much he thought about being immortalised in Liverpool when he slapped in a transfer request attempting to move to Stamford Bridge.
After rejected bids, burnt shirts and alleged death threats, Gerrard opted to stay, while Chelsea won three more Premier League titles and the Champions League during the rest of Gerrard’s tenure at Anfield.
David De Gea to Real Madrid
The best goalkeeper in the world at the time, De Gea was the only thing keeping David Moyes and Louis van Gaal’s United in the top half of the table. And inevitably Real Madrid came calling.
Dropped throughout August due to the speculation as talks rumbled on, it wasn’t until deadline day a £29m bid, including Keylor Navas heading the other way, was agreed, with the Spaniard in the final year of his contract.
But in stepped the heroic fax machine to the rescue, or so the story goes. The two clubs were unable to sort the administrative paperwork in time and the move collapsed.
Just over a week later, United convinced De Gea to pen a new five-year deal and he remained at Old Trafford for the next eight years.
Peter Odemwingie to QPR
Peter Odemwingie deadline day QPR
Peter Odemwingie's failed move to QPR is football heritage
It’s not unheard of for a transfer saga to define a player’s career, just look at the walking gun for hire that is Carlos Tevez, but Odemwingie has cult hero status for his incredible attempt to join, of all clubs, QPR.
With his future in doubt at West Brom, Odemwingie wanted a move elsewhere and attempted to engineer a transfer to QPR by driving to Loftus Road, where he was interviewed by Sky Sports with his head out the window of a car.
Hilariously, he was refused entry as a deal hadn’t been made and he had to retreat back to the Hawthorns with his tail firmly between his legs, but as the hero of an iconic moment.
Kaka to Manchester City
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City’s first attempt to put themselves on the world stage after their oil money fairytale, but they soon got a rude awakening when they realised they couldn’t buy everyone, well not at that point.
Kaka was one of the best players in the world 18 months on from winning the Ballon d’Or, and the Sheikhs fancied the Brazilian to kickstart Abu Dhabi’s influence.
But it soon turned into a global embarrassment when a £100m and £500,000-per-week wages were launched to AC Milan and Kaka, but the Brazilian was not for buying.
A different world without FFP, ay Geordies.
Fernando Torres to Chelsea
Fernando Torres - Chelsea
Fernando Torres made an Alexander Isak-esque move to leave Liverpool(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool fans have short memories, and they also forgot about Torres forcing through an Isak-esque attempt to leave Anfield to join Chelsea.
The Blues came calling in January 2011 and a British record £50m deal was struck after the Spaniard handed in a transfer request.
“I never kissed the Liverpool badge,” Torres stated after infuriating his former fans.
Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United
Angling for a move to Old Trafford, Berbatov finally got his way when Tottenham reluctantly accepted a £30m offer from United as the window drew to a close.
The noisy neighbours tried to get one over United as fresh off their Abu Dhabi bankroll, City had a £34m bid accepted by Spurs. But the Bulgarian wasn’t for turning and joined United.
However, it didn’t end there as Tottenham supplied alleged evidence to the Premier League claiming that United had illegally pursued the player for a year. But the Premier League decided there was not enough evidence.
Wayne Rooney to Manchester City
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney was disillusioned with United's transfer business(Image: Man Utd via Getty Images)
United lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the same transfer window, replacing them with Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan weeks after reaching the Champions League final.
And like all United fans, Rooney was left questioning the club’s decision and his call to leave Old Trafford was made public.
Like a dog with two tails, City came running onto the scene, but another desperate attempt to coax a world-class player to the Etihad, like said dog with a pillow with their new money super power, Rooney soon thought better of it and made a U-turn to sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford.
Cesc Fabregas to Arsenal
Fresh off Spain’s World Cup triumph, Barcelona’s stars celebrated by sticking a Blaugrana shirt over Fabregas’ head, while he was still an Arsenal player.
Barca never hid their interest in the La Masia graduate, but they were failing to meet Arsenal’s £40m asking price.
A year later, the deal was finally made, but Fabregas spent just three years at the Nou Camp before returning to the Premier League with Chelsea, in a saga of its own.
Ashley Cole to Chelsea
Ashley Cole - Chelsea
Ashley Cole claims he nearly crashed his car after hearing Arsenal's wage offer before signing for Chelsea(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
"I nearly swerved off the road," Cole wrote in his book ‘My Defence’ when he heard Arsenal’s £55,000-per-week contract offer.
Dubbed ‘Cashley’ by Gunners fans, Cole swapped Arsenal for Chelsea as the tide in London turned. A bitter saga eventually ended in a deadline day £5m plus William Gallas deal in 2006.
Cole lifted eight major honours at Stamford Bridge, while Arsenal fans reminded him of his greed at every given opportunity.
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Robinho to Chelsea
"On the last day, Chelsea made a great proposal and I accepted." To which a reporter replied to Robinho: "You mean Manchester?" - "Yeah, Manchester, sorry!"
It’s hard to wonder why Robinho flopped at City after Sheikh Mansour’s mad trolley dash on deadline day in 2008 saw the new kids on the block put Chelsea’s nose out by blowing them out of the water with a last minute £33m bid.
Robinho had his heart set on Chelsea, and the Blues were so confident he was coming to west London that they even started selling Robinho shirts, and he seemingly still did too when he took to his press conference.