Isak and a ‘nuclear’ row with Newcastle – what next?

Alexander the Great, .

Nine months ago, Newcastle United fans saluted their talisman at St James’ Park with those words splashed across the banner.

However, that night seems distant in comparison.

In a wry statement, Isak asserted that “promises were broken and trust is lost” and that he is still determined to join Liverpool.

Just a few hours later, Newcastle responded with a statement that “no commitment has ever been made that Alex can leave this summer.”

broken promises

Isak made the cryptic comment that a new contract might be discussed last summer.

However, Isak was only four years into his contract at the time, and due to the club’s concerns about Profit and Sustainability (PSR), discussions ended.

Following the sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton, respectively, Newcastle was able to avoid breaking the law in June 2024.

In the wake of Newcastle’s recent transfer boom, the club had to be cautious with both the transfer market and when it offered a number of lucrative new contracts, particularly one that would make Isak the club’s highest-earner.

For context, Newcastle has a tight wage structure, and seven Premier League clubs have paid more in salaries according to the most recent set of club financial statements.

After being so frightened of PSR, sporting director Paul Mitchell, who has since left the club, vowed that “we need to make sure that we don’t end up back there any time soon.”

Following the departures of former sports director Dan Ashworth and business owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, this had a significant impact on Isak.

In October 2024, Newcastle would offer Anthony Gordon new terms, but the club’s hierarchy has repeatedly emphasized that Isak’s situation will be revisited this summer.

As the Newcastle squad left for the Far East last month, someone was missing.

And he felt his absence.

Isak was a well-known player off the field, and the Swede had long played a key role in it as well.

In fact, despite having 75 shots (9.4 xG) in those six games, Newcastle have been unable to win any of their last six Premier League games without Isak.

No wonder morale initially slowed, but a close-knit group has since risen.

On the opening day, Newcastle put on a strong performance without Isak against Aston Villa, and the dressing room is convinced that this saga could even bring them closer in harmony.

Isak has a number of friends at the club, including captain Bruno Guimaraes, and he has previously excelled in such a setup.

Just moments after Isak’s statement was dropped, Bruno’s social media account received a picture of the midfielder proudly sporting a Newcastle shirt, but this was not in response to his team-mate’s barbaric words.

A player’s career is short, according to the club, and there is also agreement.

Although Isak will turn 26 next month, the striker wants to compete in the Premier League and Champions League.

Even though those at the top of Newcastle have those loftiest goals, the club will need time to achieve them.

In the most recent financial statements of the clubs, from 2023 to 2024, Liverpool spent more on wages (£386.1 million) than Newcastle did in terms of revenue (£320.3 million).

If Isak’s desire to play for the champions is “something that attracts you,” Les Ferdinand “totally gets” it.

However, the wildly popular Newcastle number nine, who scored 50 goals for the Magpies during his two seasons there, argued that Isak had “gone about it the wrong way.”

Ferdinand remarked, “If he had handled it in the right way, perhaps he would have left the football team as a hero.” After all his excellent work, he has left a bitter taste in his manner.

That’s the shame of everything, they say. He might continue to earn double what he is currently, win numerous awards, and declare, “I made the right decision.” However, wherever you go, you want to leave a legacy that is about doing your best and leaving the right way.

Of course, Newcastle has witnessed it both ways.

Yoane Wissa, a target for Newcastle, previously worked on his own at Brentford just as Isak is getting ready to leave the squad for Tyneside.

Wissa was spotted by Newcastle as a potential replacement for Callum Wilson, who left last month after his contract expired, and the club received a second bid turned down for the DR Congo international.

Newcastle has found it difficult to sign a top-notch frontman, let alone an additional centre-forward like Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, or Joao Pedro, who made the decision to relocate elsewhere.

In the final days of the window, hiring two heavyweight strikers seems a lot of work, but there is also something much bigger at stake.

What kind of precedent would emerge if Newcastle refused to let a player with three years on his contract, especially the champions?

Instead, Newcastle have continued to hold their ground, rejecting a £110m bid earlier this month, and the club does not anticipate that the “conditions of sale” will be satisfied before the window closes on September 1st.

If that turns out to be the case, could Isak return after Villa Park’s last week’s away end sang about him being “greedy” and “not caring about us”?

Isak going “completely nuclear” has left Thomas Concannon, a member of the Wor Flags group, “bewildered” by his involvement in the Alexander the Great tribute display last season.

However, the Geordie has not stopped the Swede from reintegrating, like the club.

At this point, he continued, “I don’t believe Newcastle are going to be able to find any suitable replacement.” Isak should be angry because there was a [Ekitike] who would be a good replacement, but Liverpool chose to buy him instead.

Because he must ultimately play football, I do believe there is a way back. Some people would be willing to forgive if he scored a few big goals, in my opinion.