Alexander Isak vs Newcastle: How Trust Broke Down

The main story of the summer has taken another turn with Alexander Isak releasing a statement on the eve of the PFA Awards. With 23 goals and 6 assists in the 24/25 Premier League season, Isak had been awarded a place in the PFA Team of the Season, but the 25-year-old striker snubbed the ceremony, saying that “with everything going on, it didn’t feel right to be there.” Isak instead took the opportunity to slam Newcastle’s board, stating that “when promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue” – but why has it come to this?

The story began at the start of the summer transfer window, with Liverpool showing huge interest in Isak while looking to strengthen their title-winning 24/25 season squad. Isak was undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the Premier League and Europe last season, with his performances and goals contributing to Newcastle’s 5th-place finish in the league and subsequent Champions League qualification.

Despite a successful campaign, the Swede informed Newcastle of his decision to explore other options for the upcoming season. However, the Geordie club refused to let Isak go unless a club met their £150m valuation and they were able to find a suitable replacement.

Liverpool had a £110m bid rejected, and doubts were cast over whether they would actually look to pursue Alexander Isak after they signed Hugo Ekitike from Frankfurt – ironically a player who Newcastle wanted to replace the Swede – for £85m.

The tragic loss of Diogo Jota, as well as the sales of Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz, have meant that Liverpool are short of attacking options, but they appear to be unwilling to meet the £150m price tag, having already spent close to £300m on new players this summer. However, it is rumoured that they may launch another bid in the coming week of £130m, with Arne Slot desperate to have more attacking options.

This has left both Newcastle and Isak in a difficult position. The Magpies have also lost Callum Wilson, who left to join West Ham, and have lost out on potential replacements like Ekitike and Benjamin Šeško, who snubbed the opportunity to join and chose to move to Manchester United instead. The club has only one recognised striker available, William Osula, who did not start a single game for them last season, and Eddie Howe’s men used Anthony Gordon as a makeshift centre-forward in their opening day clash against Aston Villa.

They have been embroiled in their own transfer saga with Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who is also trying to force a move from his club and join Newcastle, but even with his signing, they would still need an out-and-out number 9. With two weeks of the summer window left, it would be very difficult for them to find a player of Isak’s profile and calibre available on the market. This has also put Isak in a difficult position, as the Swede still has three years left on his current contract. His stubborn adamance that he will not play for the Magpies again could be a plot to bring down his price tag, but it could also work against him in the case that he is unable to secure a move away from the club.

Newcastle have released a statement to counter that of Isak’s, saying that “no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer” and that “Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates.” It remains to be seen whether Isak will stay at the club or get his move to Liverpool.