Alexander Isak agreement reached as Liverpool transfer target told 'it serves you right'

The will he, won't he saga surrounding Alexander Isak and his move from Newcastle United to Liverpool for a potential British record transfer fee continues, with the Swedish striker still set on a move to Anfield. Unsurprisingly, many Newcastle fans are understandably irate following their star striker's summer protests in an effort to force his exit.

Isak has been a revelation since joining the Magpies in 2022 from Real Sociedad, helping the club qualify for the Champions League twice, while emerging as one of world football's leading centre-forwards. But much his reputation on Tyneside has been tarnished after Isak failed to join the club on their pre-season tour before being ordered to train on his own.

There are those who have taken a sympathetic view of Isak's situation and his actions, but most pundits appear to be in agreement over their judgement. As such, Mirror Sport has compiled the views of some of the most prominent mouthpieces as uncertainty surrounds Isak's future in the northeast.

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Ally McCoist against "throwing the toys out"

Ally McCoist scored just nine goals in two seasons at Sunderland, but he's siding with the Tyneside giants when it comes to their handling of such a delicate matter.

With three years left on Isak's contract, the Magpies are under no pressure to sell unless they receive an adequate offer. And McOist believes the player is reaping only what he himself sowed after jumping the gun and segregating himself from his squad.

“I think he’s acted poorly," he told Mirror Sport. "Not all players but some players and people forget that if you sign a contract, you are clearly happy with the contract. You can’t sign a contract with the intention of doing well, throwing the toys out and demanding a move. You can’t do that. If you sign a contract then you have to say, ‘I’m here for three years, four years and that I’m going to honour that contract.

"You sign it because you’re happy with it. I think he’s been poor. You can’t behave like that. The one set of supporters that won’t let you away with it are Newcastle fans. It’s hard to argue with them."

Alan Pardew criticism

Alan Pardew was named Premier League Manager of the Season after guiding Newcastle back to Europe in 2012. The journeyman spent four years at the club's helm and had to deal with his fair share of drama, some of which was brought upon himself.

While others may be inclined to take the money on offer and get in a replacement for Isak, Pardew sees no need. And many will agree with his verdict that Newcastle hold all the cards when it comes to their frontman's fate, even if it means he's unhappy at St. James' Park for a time.

"The transfer to me looks like it can't be done because Newcastle are going to dig their heels in now, and I think they are angry," said former Magpies chief Pardew on talkSPORT. "I would also be if I was on the Newcastle board.

"I would dig my heels in, so the fee could go really silly. The problem is, he's handled it so badly. He couldn't have handled it any worse.

"His agents and advisors have said to him to throw down the tools after serving that great football club, and he's doing really bad things to hold them to ransom and more or less force a way out."

Gabby Agbonlahor: "He should be punished"

Another disgruntled pundit who believes Isak should be made to suffer is former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor. And the Villa Park hero knows a thing or two about dealing with outside interest after attracting attention of his own during his Premier League heyday.

The 38-year-old is biased on the matter considering Newcastle face his old club, for whom he made 391 appearances, in Week 1 of the Premier League season. But even if that weren't the case, Agbonlahor appears to be of the belief Isak must be made to pay for the disruption he's caused during the summer window.

TalkSPORT host Natalie Sawyer suggested Isak faces the task of in the squad, to which Agbonlahor replied: "And so he should, because it sets a bad example to other players, if he's straight back in and training like nothing's happened.

"He refused to go on tour with the team, which is wild, walked out of training, went and trained with [former employers] Real Sociedad as well. So he should be punished."

Shaun Wright-Phillips calls for "respect"

Shaun Wright-Phillips was a man of relatively few words as a player, but his actions often did the talking. And the son of Arsenal legend Ian could never be criticised for a lack of commitment, having to convince coaches he was of the top grade despite his diminutive frame.

But even the former Manchester City winger, who has said he cried after being forced to join Chelsea, came out firing when quizzed about Isak's conduct of late. And he didn't hold back when asked for his views on the striker refusing to fulfil team duties and putting his own desires first.

"I think he's handled it very badly, because everyone knows you want out, but you should go and train," Wright-Phillips told AceOdds.com. "You're not affecting the club, you're affecting the players you've been to war with for the last three seasons. Have a little bit of respect for your team-mates, turn up to train and then go home."

Liverpool's attempts to sign Isak have seemingly simmered since having a £120million offer for the player turned down. And that perhaps illustrates Wright-Phillips' point that prioritising one's own needs can lead to catastrophic results.

"Everyone's been in a position in football where they don't want to be somewhere but there's only some who don't show up for training," he continued. "He's obviously been advised to do that because the person I've seen talk and be around in Newcastle doesn't seem like that's in his character."

Jamie Carragher warns Isak has "outgrown" Toon

Newcastle knew they were signing a potentially generational gem when Isak joined from Real Sociedad for a club-record fee of around £63m. However, they might not have predicted just what a success the player would go on to become in a relatively short space of time.

Fast forward three years, and Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher believes Isak has "outgrown" his current club. The Kop legend has said he would like to see his old club sign the forward, but he has risked offending a few Magpies supporters by outlining the different in prestige between the two English rivals.

"I’ve had this at Liverpool. Sometimes a player outgrows the team," he said on "You’re a team who will fight to qualify for the Champions League. He can play in a team that can win it.

"When that gap becomes too big, that’s when you’ve got a problem. It happened to us with Liverpool with Steven Gerrard, but we were lucky that he was a Liverpool fan and he was from the city. If Steven Gerrard wasn’t a Liverpool fan, he would’ve left, because he was here [up high] and the team was there [down low]."

Michael Owen sympathy

Another former Red who has adopted a more relaxed stance on Isak's behaviour is Michael Owen. And the retired England striker has suggested the situation is perhaps being blown out of proportion to some extent.

As someone who made his own controversial stand in order to get a move to Real Madrid in 2004, refusing to play in Europe so he wouldn't be cup-tied, Owen sympathised with Isak's plight. So it perhaps isn't a surprise the 45-year-old sought to soothe some of the aggression certain fans and pundits might feel over Isak's defiance.

"This is not a strange scenario," he said. "It happens all the time. It's a high-profile scenario, but it's the same scenario as what happens all the time.

"There are a lot of simple things that go into the discussion. From Newcastle's point of view, they've got a player who's under contract, and they've got to weigh up the balance of the finances, what they could receive, maybe having an unhappy player, or maybe keeping someone against his will."

Alan Shearer won't join in boos

Mr. Newcastle himself, many might be stunned to hear Alan Shearer adopt a diplomatic stance when it comes to Isak's future. In fact, the St. James' great appeared calm and collected when discussing the frontman's future, urging a sale if Newcastle's demands are met.

That remains a big if, as it remains to be seen whether Liverpool (or anyone) would be willing to cough up Isak's reported £150m price-tag. But Shearer was assured in delivering his point that if the player wants to leave, it shouldn't be up to the club to convince any player otherwise.

"I think up until now it's been a disastrous window for Newcastle," he said on The Rest Is Football podcast. "They're probably gonna lose their best player, one of the league's best centre forwards, if not the best.

"But I'm okay with the situation. I thought he might have stayed for another summer, and then this would have happened next summer. But it is what it is.

"If he can't be persuaded to stay, then if someone offers Newcastle what they want, then they've got to take it. Because, ultimately, you just say, 'Thank you very much for the great memories you've given us, and off you go.'"

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