Newcastle star 'likes' post slamming Alexander Isak as Liverpool plot second bid
Newcastle star Joelinton has made his stance clear on Alexander Isak's conduct after 'liking' a social media post criticising the 'destructive path' the forward has taken this summer.
Isak informed Newcastle's hierarchy of his desire to seek opportunities elsewhere last month and the situation has turned increasingly bitter in the proceeding days and weeks.
Liverpool have emerged as Isak's priority for the new campaign and the 25-year-old – the Magpies' top scorer with 27 goals last term – has been training alone after opting out of Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia.
An impassioned post from Isak on Tuesday evening accused Newcastle of 'breaking promises' and holding him to ransom with just a fortnight remaining of the transfer window.
The Toon responded with an explosive statement of their own, refuting Isak's claims while also stressing that they would be prepared to stand in the way of the Swede's potential exit at St James' Park.
It remains to be seen if Liverpool will return with a follow-up bid for Isak having seen an initial offer of £110million – plus add-ons – rejected out of hand by their Premier League rivals..
The latest reports suggest the English champions would be willing to break the British transfer record for a second time this summer by lodging a £130m bid for Isak before the September 1 deadline.
The Sweden striker has accused Newcastle of 'broken promises' (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool are reportedly considering a second bid for Isak (Picture: Getty)
How to watch 215 Premier League matches this season
(Picture: Metro/Sky Sports)
Sky Sports is going full throttle this Premier League season, airing a record-breaking 215 live matches - that's nearly double the usual dose of drama, goals, and post-match meltdowns.
From Friday night clashes to Super Sundays and even all ten final-day fixtures, Sky's new deal means fans won't miss a single nutmeg or last-minute screamer. Whether you're team Sky Q, Sky Glass, or prefer streaming via NOW, you're covered.
And with pundits like Jamie Carragher probably already rehearsing their 'I told you so' lines, expect top-tier commentary alongside top-tier football. As Pep might say, 'More games, more problems - for the other teams.'
Check out the latest deals from Sky here, starting from £15 a month.
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more.
However, it's understood Newcastle are refusing to waver from their £150m asking price and would only consider selling if they are confident they can bring in a viable replacement.
Yoane Wissa remains Newcastle's top target up front, but Brentford turned down their initial proposal for the attacker and are believed to be holding out for a fee in excess of £50m.
It's fair to say Isak's conduct has left many Newcastle fans furious, with loud chants of, 'There's only one greedy b******', heard in the away end at Villa Park last weekend.
And it seems Isak's behaviour has begun to seriously frustrate and anger members of the Newcastle dressing room – that's if Joelinton's social media antics are anything to go by.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page
Next Page
With the situation threatening to descend into a farce, several eagle-eyed Newcastle fans spotted that Joelinton had 'liked' an Instagram post from fan page, Wor Flags, condemning Isak's actions in recent weeks.
'Idolised and adored. No promises broken by the fans that make this club,' the post read.
'We deserve better than the destructive path you've chosen.
'Newcastle United will never be defeated.'
Joelinton 'liked' a post hitting out at Isak's 'destructive' behaviour (Picture: Instagram/@worflags)
Despite Isak's hardline position, Eddie Howe has repeatedly stressed that he would be prepared to welcome the attacker back into the fold as soon as he is ready to rejoin his team-mates.
'Nothing has changed. The door is well and truly open,' the Newcastle head coach said.
'He has to decide what he wants to do. We would like a resolution. We need that clarity. You don't need any kind of distraction.
'I am not in control of that. There is one person who can control that. Let's wait and see. I have made my stance clear. I am concentrating on the team.'
Howe is ready to reintegrate Isak back into the squad (Picture: Getty)
Asked about the chants directed at Isak from Newcastle fans, Howe replied: 'The supporters acted really well today.
'If afterwards, they want to say something, they are free to do that.'
Speaking after Newcastle's goalless draw with Aston Villa, Anthony Gordon admitted the uncertainty surrounding Isak's future had contributed to a 'difficult' start to the season.
More Trending
'It has been difficult because we're a tight-knit group,' the Newcastle winger said.
'But you see today, we've still got that spirit and togetherness.
'That will never go, regardless of individuals. We're still together. Things like this can make you better in the end.'
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Arrow MORE: Eberechi Eze makes decision over Arsenal transfer as Gunners hijack Tottenham move
Arrow MORE: Alan Shearer tells Alexander Isak to take drastic action amid Liverpool transfer 'mess'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
24 minutes ago
- Metro
Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City? Hasselbaink names his favourite for Premier League
Chelsea hero Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has picked out Manchester City as his favourites for the Premier League title this season. City's sustained period of dominance came crashing to a halt last term as Liverpool stormed to the top-flight title for an 18th time in Arne Slot's debut year in English football. Having hoisted the trophy aloft in each of the previous four seasons, Pep Guardiola's City eventually had to settle for third place – with 13 points separating them from the eventual champions. But City supporters were able to take some encouragement from their resurgence across a strong end to the campaign, which ensured another year of Champions League football. Etihad bosses have made sure to invest heavily across a free-spending summer transfer window to give Guardiola's men the best possible chance of knocking Liverpool off their perch again this season. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish have made way in recent months, but Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and James Trafford have all been recruited – for a combined fee of around £108million – to bolster a new-look City squad. And after a promising pre-season, the eight-time Premier League champions got the new campaign off to a blistering start, putting four goals past Wolves to clinch top spot ahead of their clash with Tottenham. Sky Sports is going full throttle this Premier League season, airing a record-breaking 215 live matches - that's nearly double the usual dose of drama, goals, and post-match meltdowns. From Friday night clashes to Super Sundays and even all ten final-day fixtures, Sky's new deal means fans won't miss a single nutmeg or last-minute screamer. Whether you're team Sky Q, Sky Glass, or prefer streaming via NOW, you're covered. And with pundits like Jamie Carragher probably already rehearsing their 'I told you so' lines, expect top-tier commentary alongside top-tier football. As Pep might say, 'More games, more problems - for the other teams.' Check out the latest deals from Sky here, starting from £15 a month. Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more . Reijnders, in particular, shone on debut, doubling City's lead before assisting Erling Haaland at Molineux – and Hasselbaink was mightily impressed with what he saw from his fellow Dutchman. 'He's not going to get as many assists as De Bruyne,' Hasselbaink told Sky Sports News of Reijnders' eye-catching start for City. 'He's going to be more available and I think he's going to score more goals than De Bruyne. But assists-wise, I don't think that there are going to be as many. 'But the boy can play and they have found a diamond there.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The former Chelsea and Netherlands striker has seen enough to believe that City are 'the team to beat' again after their disappointing season last term. 'Manchester City is my favourite for the year to win the title,' Hasselbaink added. 'Everyone is talking about Liverpool and I do think it's going to be very close, but Manchester City, for me, is the team to beat.' During an interview with HaytersTV, Hasselbaink's former Chelsea team-mate Joe Cole backed Liverpool to successfully defend their title having won 'at a canter' last season. Cole also revealed his doubts surrounding Arsenal's marquee summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, who he feels is yet to prove himself despite his extraordinary goalscoring exploits at Sporting. 'I make them [Liverpool] favourites [for the title]. They've strengthened and they won it at a canter last season,' Cole told Hayters TV. 'I think this might be [Mikel] Arteta's best chance that he's had. He's got a centre-forward in, but there's still a question mark there. 'It's not like you're bringing in a player like… if Arsenal would've gone and signed Osimhen, who I've seen do it in Italy and in Turkey… 'This kid [Gyokeres], there is still a question mark. I think he's going to be alright, I think he'll score goals, but I just think Liverpool are the best side at the moment. 'The best chance the other teams have is if Liverpool have a slow start because there's a lot of change, but by the end of the season I expect them to be motoring.' Are Man City the favourites for the title? For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: 'Obvious choice' – Chelsea urged to hijack Liverpool move for £35m transfer target MORE: Chelsea line up future move for Brighton star as transfer deal is agreed MORE: Newcastle star 'likes' post slamming Alexander Isak as Liverpool plot second transfer bid
The Guardian
39 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Alexander Isak and Newcastle approach point of no return after striker's outburst
As a general rule, it is almost always best to sleep on things before making important decisions or reacting to provocations. So why, at close to midnight on Tuesday, did Newcastle rush out a seemingly kneejerk response to Alexander Isak's incendiary Instagram post claiming that, amid broken promises, his relationship with the club was over? In a statement reflecting an appreciably tougher tone than at any time during this summer saga, Newcastle insisted no promises had been broken and that their intention is to keep Isak. The message was that the Sweden striker's attempt to force a move to Liverpool had failed and he would need to end his one-man strike before being welcomed back to first-team training. The only problem is that while you can lead a horse to water it sometimes really is impossible to make them drink. Even if – and right now it looks a pretty big if – Isak stops training alone and agrees to rejoin Newcastle's first-team fold, how can Eddie Howe ever trust him again? Howe's high-intensity, hard‑pressing approach is extremely demanding and, if Isak is anything less than fully engaged, he will prove detrimental to the team. Yes, Isak is supremely gifted, but the standard in the Premier League and Champions League is so high that even he is not capable of drifting through games and scoring goals out of nothing. Howe has already acknowledged that Isak's behaviour in skipping Newcastle's pre-season tour of south-east Asia disrupted dressing‑room morale. Does he really want a player, however talented, polluting behind‑the‑scenes atmosphere with his grievances? Given Newcastle fans have taken to chanting about 'one greedy bastard', maintaining his personal security in the face of intense supporter anger may not be exactly straightforward, either. Moreover, Isak knows that with every poor performance the price tag around his neck will drop. Given that Liverpool have shown no indication of pursuing alternative strikers, they could end up playing a slightly longer game and waiting until Newcastle are desperate to offload their No 14 in January. In reality it will be a major surprise if this saga endures that long. Indeed a careful reading of Newcastle's statement conveys a hint that maybe it is part of a haggling manoeuvre as the club's Saudi Arabian owners aim to extract the maximum possible price from their Anfield counterparts. As the former Newcastle and Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez used to say: 'All football is a lie.' In their statement on Tuesday night Newcastle said: 'We have been clear that the conditions for a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee these conditions being met.' The conditions in question refer to the need for Newcastle to sign two strikers to not merely replace Isak but also Callum Wilson, who is now at West Ham. There is a theory that Isak's withering social media outburst reflected his frustration at the club's unwillingness to pay Brentford's £50m-£60m asking fee for Yoane Wissa to fill at least one of those slots. In an uncanny parallel, Wissa has also absented himself from first-team involvement at his club as he attempts to seal a longed‑for move to St James' Park. The ostensibly weird thing about the proposed Wissa deal is that the Saudis want £150m for Isak but have offered Brentford £40m for the DR Congo forward. Statistics can be deceptive but in this case they seem pretty compelling. Last season Wissa scored 19 goals in 35 Premier League appearances. Significantly, none were penalties. Isak, meanwhile, scored 23 times in 34 league appearances for a much stronger side. Four of his goals were also penalties. There is a reasonable case for claiming that Isak's all-round game is superior to Wissa's, but Brentford watchers demur, making the point that Wissa is also a pretty useful attacking threat from wide on the left. The big difference is that Wissa is three years older than Isak. Perhaps more importantly, while three years remain on Isak's contract with Newcastle, there is only one year left on Wissa's with Brentford. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Newcastle's £40m offer for Wissa, made on Wednesday afternoon, was swiftly rejected by Brentford but the hope of the club's Saudi owners will be that a deal will eventually be done. They also know that keeping Isak for another year could prove rather pointless given that he is clearly not committed to Howe's cause and next summer's price for a then 26-year-old with two years left on his contract is going to be nowhere near £150m. Despite appearances to the contrary, the prospect of such a dwindling profit margin means it is still eminently possible to envisage Isak waking up as a Liverpool player on 2 September. Similarly, Jørgen Strand Larsen or Gonçalo Ramos could join Wissa on Tyneside by the time the transfer window has shut. And should that all transpire, what's for sure is that Newcastle's dressing room would be an infinitely healthier, happier place.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Fighters will undergo screening to determine sex before women's World Boxing Championships
Boxers who want to compete in the women's division at next month's World Boxing Championships in Liverpool will need to undergo tests to determine their sex. The international body, World Boxing, had already announced its plan to require competitors to undergo a polymerase chain reaction test or an equivalent genetic screening test to determine their sex at birth. The rules will be implemented ahead of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool in early September, the organisation announced on Wednesday. The organisation's tests identify the presence or absence of Y chromosome genetic material to indicate biological sex. All boxers, including Algeria's Imane Khelif, 26, who won Olympic welterweight gold in Paris 2024 in the female category, will be unable to compete in their events until they undergo the test. Khelif's disputed failed gender eligibility test - conducted by a different boxing body - was a major issue at the Olympics before she won gold. She has repeatedly said she was born a woman, and she has competed at all levels of women's amateur boxing for nearly a decade. "World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and is keen to ensure it is as inclusive as possible," World Boxing president Boris Van Der Vorst said. "Yet in a combat sport like boxing, we have a duty of care to deliver safety and competitiveness fairness, which are the key principles that have guided the development and creation of this policy." Khelif declined to enter a World Boxing tournament in the Netherlands in June, shortly after the governing body initially announced its plans to introduce sex testing. The debate over the boxers has seen renewed discussion over athletes who may have differences in sexual development (DSD), which covers a group of conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs developing differently than expected. World Boxing said athletes with DSD in which male androgenisation occurs will be eligible to compete only in the men's category. But the governing body also plans to offer extra analysis and evaluation for athletes with Y chromosome genetic material who wish to compete in the women's categories, as well as an appeals process. National federations are responsible for conducting the tests and submitting the results, World Boxing said. Chromosome testing was previously common in Olympic sports but was largely abandoned in the 1990s because of numerous ambiguities. Many sports switched to hormone testing, but it requires governing bodies to make difficult decisions on the eligibility of women with naturally high testosterone levels. Earlier this year, World Athletics - the governing body for track and field - became the first Olympic sport to reintroduce chromosome testing.
