Alan Shearer takes incredible swipe at Alexander Isak during Liverpool's season opener amid Newcastle transfer saga
ALAN SHEARER has taken an incredible swipe at Newcastle rebel Alexander Isak.
The Toon ace has been pushing for a transfer away from the club this summer, and it is understood he will not take part in Newcastle's season opener at Aston Villa.
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Alexander Isak was brutally dug out by Alan Shearer during Liverpool's season opener
Credit: Getty
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The Newcastle icon suggested Isak might play second fiddle to a 'brilliant' Liverpool star
Credit: Getty
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That star being Hugo Ekitike, who has scored two in two games for the Reds
Credit: PA
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Isak, 25, was the subject of a rejected £110million offer from Liverpool - with the St James' Park club wanting £150m to sell.
However, having already splashed large sums on the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, Shearer took a dig at Isak after seeing the latter net the opener against Bournemouth.
Ekitike had scored against Crystal Palace mere moments into his debut in the Community Shield, before also managing to score on his Anfield debut on Friday night.
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The Frenchman, who arrived on Merseyside for an initial £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt, took a pass from Alexis Mac Allister and nutmegged a Cherries defender before a lucky bounce put him through one-on-one and allowed him to slot home and open his Premier League account.
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GET OUT OF TOON Isak MOVES OUT of Newcastle home as he tries to force Liverpool transfer
It was the first goal of a thrilling encounter, which the Reds won 4-2 after two late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah saw off a Bournemouth comeback - although the occasion was plagued by alleged racist abuse by a fan directed towards Antoine Semenyo, with authorities ejecting the fan from the ground and saying they were investigating the incident.
But Magpies legend Shearer took to social media during the game to take aim Isak.
Shearer, 55, said: "Surely any forward thinking of going to Liverpool will be having second thoughts now having to play second fiddle to the brilliant Ekitike all season?"
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Isak, who scored 27 goals in all competitions last season, has been training alone away from his team-mates for the duration of his strike.
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Newcastle have continued to pay his £130,000-a-week wages, but SunSport understands disciplinary action is on the cards if he misses the club's opening game against Villa at 12:30pm today.
The Swedish ace will be hit with a fine for missing a competitive game if he fails to show, but Isak and his agent, Vlado Lermic, are still not changing their stance as they continue to try and force his exit.
The two sides to Isak's STRIKE story | Transfers Exposed
Boss Eddie Howe has made it clear that he wants his top scorer back with the team, but he admits the future of the hotshot is out of his hands.
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Howe said on Friday: "I've said many times I want Alex to train and play. I've had those conversations with him."
Pressed on when Isak might return to the squad, Howe shrugged: "I don't know. Alex will control that."
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Newcastle could hand competitive debuts to Aaron Ramsdale, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga for the Villa Park clash.
Howe confirmed Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman had shaken off pre-season knocks and were available to play, with only Joe Willock unfit for the game.
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Newcastle also remain in the hunt for a new hitman, with reports linking Brentford's Yoane Wissa, Paris Saint-Germain's Goncalo Ramos and Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund with moves.
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