Alexander Isak cannot blame Newcastle United for everything as transfer saga takes ugly turn

Alexander Isak has every right to want to leave Newcastle United, but the striker himself has to be blamed for his part in what is becoming a damaging saga.

Isak has told Newcastle United he wants to leave this summer, with Liverpool reportedly seen as his most likely destination if the club’s owners decide to sell.

There’s no suggestion PIF will cash in on the forward, but clearly, they are under a huge amount of pressure from the player and his agents.

While it’s disappointing to hear that Newcastle’s best player wants to go, he can hardly be blamed for that.

Isak wanted PIF to show more ambition at Newcastle and he’s not wrong to demand that. A new contract has not been forthcoming despite his fine form, while continents appear to drift faster than Newcastle’s decision-making at executive level.

There are still no new updates on a new sporting director, CEO, training ground or stadium. With that in mind, it’s hardly much of a surprise that a player that talented might be tempted to leave, particularly when there are so many riches on offer elsewhere.

Isak himself, however, does not come out of this saga looking good.

Alexander Isak is letting Newcastle United fans down
There are ways of going about things. The fact that Isak wants to go is not the issue, even if it is painful for supporters.

Still, the player has three years on his contract. Surely the only way Newcastle sell him is if Isak himself forces the issue, which his camp appear to be doing.

The fact that so many outlets are confidently reporting that Isak has asked to go would suggest there’s been some kind of communication behind the scenes. Whether that’s from the club themselves or Isak’s representatives is unclear.

Indeed, Craig Hope of The Daily Mail even suggested there was a feeling that Isak started to check out of life at Newcastle towards the end of last season. If correct, that does not cover the player in glory.

“I think amongst some that once that Carabao Cup victory, that legendary status was secured, he came off it slightly,” said Hope.

“Now, he continued to score goals, he took his tally to 27 and there were some important goals amidst that.

“But on the second last weekend of the season down at Arsenal, a huge and key game – I was there.

“Alexander Isak didn’t get off the bus. We didn’t know that, we thought he was there with the squad in London. That’s because he was and he reported muscle fatigue on the morning of the game and he didn’t play.

“There was a feeling among some that, at that point, he just started to check out.”