Alexander Isak is at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between Liverpool and Newcastle United
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher (Image: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher believes the outcome of the Alexander Isak transfer saga has the potential to define both Newcastle United and Liverpool's seasons.
The 25-year-old is at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between the two clubs after the Magpies rejected a £110m bid from the Premier League champions on August 1.
Earlier this week, the Sweden international said he had no future at St James' Park after promises had been "broken" and trust had been "lost".
On Friday, with less than two weeks of the transfer window remaining, Eddie Howe insisted he was hopeful that Isak could be reintegrated into the squad after Monday's Premier League clash against Liverpool.
And Carragher believes how the saga develops in the next 10-or-so days will be crucial for both teams' aspirations this term.
"The Alexander Isak transfer saga has the potential to define Newcastle United and Liverpool’s season," wrote Carragher in his latest Telegraph column. "Today, it is Eddie Howe’s crisis. It could be Arne Slot’s soon.
"Time is running out for the clubs to secure the firepower needed. If Isak is not a Liverpool player early next week, he and Slot must accept that it is not going to happen in this transfer window.
"For all the praise of how Liverpool have conducted their business this summer – and no one is more admiring than me – the next few days are crucial to their title defence.
"Slot will not defend the crown with only three out-and-out attackers of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike. They cannot carry the goalscoring burden without at least one more, preferably two, top-class operators across the front line, especially as Salah will be on Africa Cup of Nations duty in December."
But despite what Isak claims to have been promised by decision-makers at St James' Park, Carragher believes it was always going to be difficult to prise the forward away from Newcastle after they qualified for the Champions League.
"No matter what Isak wanted privately, there was a fair assumption it would be another 12 months before such a transfer was tolerable at St James’ Park," added Carragher.
"Signing a new deal with the written guarantees Isak claims were made verbally would have forced the move in 2026.
"Now it is carnage. Howe is currently without his best player, and reintegrating him has become more complicated after the understandably hostile reaction of Newcastle fans at Villa Park last weekend.
"There is a big difference between the attitude of the hardcore, travelling supporters to the social media masses who give the impression they will change their mind with the weather.
"When Howe heard those chants, the idea that Isak would be welcomed back into the fold like the prodigal son once the window closed felt far-fetched. Even if he stays, it could be weeks or months before he is playing. Isak’s subsequent incendiary statement felt like an act of desperation to initiate a divorce.
"Howe is caught in the middle, rightly earning sympathy as he has built a fine side ready to take the next step."
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