Alexander Isak bombshell risks leaving Alan Shearer with egg on his face after transfer wish
At the end of last season, Alan Shearer was convinced that Alexander Isak would be staying at Newcastle United. Fast forward just a little over two months and the Magpies' star striker has dropped a major transfer bombshell after he told Toon chiefs he wishes to explore opportunities elsewhere, and Shearer now looks at risk of humiliation.
Speaking on The Rest is Football Podcast in May, Shearer was adamant that Newcastle's recent success meant they had serious leverage when it came to keeping hold of their star man.
The Magpies legend said: "Got to keep him and they will, I'm pretty sure of that. "Because of their success this year and because they're in the Champions League... there's not a worry in my mind that he's going anywhere. He'll be a Newcastle player next season. He's a very, very, very good player.'
Isak has scored 62 goals for Newcastle since joining from Real Sociedad in 2022. One of those strikes even helped Newcastle win the Carabao Cup last season - the club's first piece of major silverware in almost 70 years. Their Swedish talisman was also instrumental in securing Champions League football for this season as they finished fifth.
How could Shearer's earlier hypothesis backfire? Everything pointed to Isak sticking by the club as they entered a new era of success, backed by their wealthy owners, albeit with PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) hanging over their heads.
It's fair to say Newcastle and their fans have been blindsided by the saga. Events have seen, not only Isak tell the club's hierarchy that he wishes to explore the possibility of leaving, but also seen the player refuse to be part of the club's pre-season so far, as big-spending Liverpool made their interest known.
The 25-year-old opted out of travelling with Newcastle on their tour of the Far East, while he also was sent home from a preseason fixture against Celtic, with Eddie Howe claiming the player wasn't in the right frame of mind.
A 'minor thigh injury' was touted as the reason for his absence by the club. However, the saga took a turn as Liverpool lodged a staggering £120 million bid for Isak - an offer that was swiftly rejected by Newcastle, as the striker then began to train alone at former club Sociedad.
Newcastle are also eyeing RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. A second bid has now been sent for the striker after opening offer was rejected, as they look to have a replacement on board, should Liverpool come back in with another hefty bid for their wantaway star. Howe still hopes to see his leading man in the black and white next season.
Back on The Rest is Football this week, Shearer cut a markedly different tone from 72 days ago as pulled a U-turn and insisted that, should Isak's stance continue, then Newcastle will have no choice but to usher him out of the door.
'No, I'm not angry at all towards him," Shearer said this week. "I understand how football works, I know what happens in and around the game.
'I probably understand his mentality. Do I like it? Do I understand it? Probably two different things. But I know what football is about and I know how it works, and obviously Liverpool have been into him or his agent.
'I just thought it might have happened next year and if it really is impossible for Eddie to turn him around and he says no, and it sounds like that is the case, I want him to be out now, you get your big money for him, whoever's prepared to pay that and you get other people in, hopefully beforehand, and then you move on.
'As I said, no individual is bigger than any football club, and if he doesn't want to be there, fine, get what you can and get him out and say thanks very much for the memories, off you go.'
Shearer's brave declaration that Isak "isn't going anywhere", and his consequent 180 on the matter, now somewhat threatens to embarrass him. The Swedish striker seems hellbent on securing a move to Anfield, while Newcastle chiefs are appearing to be planning for life without their key man.
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