The long and drawn-out saga between Alexander Isak, Newcastle United and Liverpool continues to rumble on as we approach the end of the summer transfer window – and Georginio Wijnaldum has hit back at a social media post that has linked something he said in 2016 to the Swede’s current situation.
Isak, widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, remains on strike as he tries to push for a move to Arne Slot’s reigning Premier League champions. Reportedly, the Reds are eyeing up a new £138 million bid to get a deal over the line.
Eddie Howe and his entourage, who have set a £150 million price tag for the ex-Real Sociedad marksman, are scrambling around the market looking for a viable replacement with Brentford striker Yoane Wissa and Alexander Sorloth being identified.
Wijnaldum Hits Back at Social Media Post for Dragging Him Into Ongoing Isak Saga
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Whether Isak gets his Newcastle to Liverpool move this summer remains to be seen – but Wijnaldum, just shy of 10 years ago, was in a similar situation. Playing in the northeast, the Reds were interested in his signature, and he did eventually get his move.
The ex-Reds maestro was commended for his behaviour pre-transfer – and that is, of course, the opposite in the case of Isak, who has been slammed for how he’s handled the situation.
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ESPN, amid confusion over where Isak will play his football this season and beyond, have picked out Wijnaldum’s comments from when he moved from Newcastle to Liverpool in the summer of 2016. The Dutchman claimed that he didn’t force a move out of respect for the Magpies and their fans by saying:
“When the previous season ended, I said that I wouldn’t force a move. When Liverpool came in for me, I made up my mind that I wanted to come here, but I wasn’t going to force it because I appreciated what Newcastle, and their fans did for me.”
Frustrated that his name is being linked to the tumultuous situation between Isak and the duo of Premier League clubs, Rotterdam-born Wijnaldum quickly took to the comments to give context to his comments. Before he shared the post on his story to complain about the media, his comment read:
“This is something I said almost 10 years ago before my move to Liverpool. Why do you post it like it’s my opinion about Isak and his decision? This is something between Isak and Newcastle/Liverpool, please keep me out of it. Thank you.”
Wijnaldum, who is now 34 years of age and is plying his trade in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ettifaq, played 237 times for Liverpool, a club he won the Champions League and Premier League with, before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021.
The Isak saga continues to hot up with Liverpool travelling to St James' Park on Monday for the biggest clash of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign thus far. The talismanic Swede, 25, will obviously not be involved for either side.