Alexander Isak says his relationship with Newcastle “can’t continue” and “change is in the best interests of everyone” as he accused the club of broken promises over his future.
The striker, who is wanted by Liverpool and currently training away from Newcastle’s first team, broke his silence on Tuesday night, releasing a statement on Instagram in which he said he has “lost trust” in the club.
Newcastle have insisted throughout that Isak, who they value at £150m, is not for sale – and it would take them signing an adequate replacement to even consider parting with the 25-year-old.
Isak said: “I’ve kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn’t reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.
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The Sunday Supplement panel dissect Isak’s future at Newcastle
“The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
“When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.”
Sky Sports News reported in July that Isak had informed Newcastle he wanted to explore his options this transfer window.
At the start of August, Liverpool had a £110m plus add-ons bid rejected by Newcastle for the 25-year-old.
Isak took his frustrations public on Tuesday with an update on Instagram posted during the PFA awards ceremony, which he skipped despite being nominated for the top prize of Player of the Year due to his current stand-off with Newcastle.
He said: “I’m proud to be recognised by my fellow professionals with a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season for 2024/25.
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Ex-Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce believes the club should sell Isak
“First and foremost I want to thank my teammates and everyone at Newcastle United who has supported me along the way.
“I’m not at the ceremony tonight. With everything going on, it didn’t feel right to be there.”
Newcastle would only consider selling Isak when they have signed an adequate replacement – and the club have so far failed to even bring in a striker to come in for Callum Wilson.
They have failed with attempts to sign Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko this summer – both of whom were considered potential successors to Isak – and have very limited options with less than two weeks left of the window.
Newcastle currently only have one recognised striker on their books in 22-year-old William Osula, who did not start a single Premier League game for the club last season.
Timeline of Isak saga
July 15: Liverpool told Isak not for sale in this window after making informal approach to Newcastle – and decide to rival them for Hugo Ekitike instead after being rebuffed.
July 23: Liverpool beat Newcastle to the signing of Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt after the North East club had already missed out on Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.
July 24: Isak is not included in Newcastle’s squad for pre-season tour of Asia due to what Newcastle described as a “minor thigh injury”.
July 24: It later emerges that Isak has informed Newcastle he wants to explore his options in this transfer window.
July 31: Sky Sports News reports that Isak is training individually at former club Real Sociedad’s facilities.
August 1: Newcastle reject an official bid from Liverpool for Isak worth £110m plus add-ons.
August 2: Newcastle make formal bid to RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko worth nearly £70m and Isak later flies back to the North East after his personal training camp in Spain.
August 4: The striker returns to Newcastle’s training ground for the first time and has trained separately from his team-mates ever since.
August 4: Newcastle up their offer to RB Leipzig for Sesko amid interest from Manchester United.
August 8: Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says “we would love the player to be with us” about Isak after he misses friendly win over Espanyol at St James’ Park.
August 9: Manchester United beat Newcastle to the signing of Sesko despite their offer to RB Leipzig being lower.
August 16: Isak not included in Newcastle squad for Premier League season opener against Aston Villa – but Howe says “door is well and truly open” for a return.
August 19: Isak skips PFA awards and releases a statement on Instagram accusing Newcastle of broken promises, telling the club “change is in the best interests of everyone”.
Carra critical of Isak’s behaviour
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Tim Sherwood gives his thoughts on Isak’s transfer situation
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher speaking last week:
“I don’t like the way he’s going about it, and I don’t think any football fan should.
“There is nothing wrong with wanting to leave a club, that’s the nature of the game, players leave clubs every summer, but you work as hard as you can and play the games. You can say you want to leave, I understand the player’s frustration and a bit of bitterness because of the money on offer, but I don’t think you can get to the stage where you don’t train.
“I’m not that fussed on Liverpool signing him. He’s better than (Hugo) Ekitike right now. But it almost feels like what PSG or Real Madrid tried to do a few years ago, whereby they try to sign all the best players available. Liverpool don’t do that. There are other areas Liverpool should use that money.”
Nev: Isak should be angry with agent
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville speaking last week:
“Isak should be angry with his agent. It’s unsavoury.
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Ex-Newcastle striker Andy Carroll says it is a shame the way Isak is behaving
“I feel sorry for Eddie Howe. Isak wants to win trophies and is agitating for a move because he’s got one career. I can see both sides. He’s got five or six good years left.
“It looks like this guy is downing tools and saying he’s not playing, and I don’t think that is right.
“Newcastle have to stand strong here. If you’re the club, it sends the wrong message to sell after what has happened.
“I think they have to keep him for another year because the precedent will be dangerous for Newcastle.”
Merse: Isak’s legacy now tainted
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson, speaking last week:
It’s an unbelievable situation Isak has put himself in.
He’s taking a big gamble by saying he’ll never play for Newcastle again.
Newcastle is a big city but it is a fish bowl in terms of football with it being a one-club city.
I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes if he doesn’t get his move. He’s upset a lot of Newcastle fans with his actions.
If he now doesn’t get away before the transfer window closes, he will need to score some serious goals to get the Newcastle fans anywhere near back on side.
If he leaves, he won’t be leaving Newcastle as a hero.
Had he kept quiet, he still could have potentially gone for big money, giving Newcastle serious profit after giving his all to the club. He was a big part of that trophy success last season, and he would have been rightly remembered for it.
Everyone could have shaken hands and been happy with the deal eventually.
But that’s now completely gone.
