Alexander Isak has broken his silence with a bombshell Instagram statement claiming "promises have been broken" and "trust has been lost" with Newcastle United. The Swedish striker published the post Tuesday evening, escalating the transfer saga that has dominated headlines for weeks.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer revealed he met with Isak just five to six months ago and detected no desire to leave the club. The former striker said he thought Isak was "a manager's dream" who spoke positively about his life and the club, leading Shearer to believe something has "massively upset" the player since then.
Club's swift response
Newcastle United responded with their own statement at 11:40pm Tuesday, denying any commitment was ever made for Isak to leave this summer. The club described themselves as "disappointed" by his social media post and insisted "no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer."
The club maintains they want to keep their best players but must consider Newcastle's interests in all decisions. They confirmed the conditions for a sale have not been met and do not foresee those conditions being fulfilled.
Financial standoff deepens
Liverpool submitted a £110 million bid for Isak earlier this month, which Newcastle promptly rejected. The Magpies value their striker at approximately £150 million, pointing to his contract that runs until 2028 as justification for the hefty price tag.
The 25-year-old has been training separately from the squad and missed Newcastle's goalless Premier League opener against Aston Villa. He also declined to attend the Professional Footballers' Association awards where he was named in the Premier League team of the season.
Behind-the-scenes breakdown
Isak's Instagram statement emphasised his position has been known to the club "for a long time" and that acting as if these issues are only now emerging is "misleading". The striker wrote: "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."
Several theories have emerged about what soured the relationship between player and club. The Liverpool Echo reports that Isak was reportedly promised a lucrative new contract by former stakeholder Amanda Staveley, but her departure in July 2024 may have disrupted those plans, with sporting director Paul Mitchell reportedly halting contract talks.
Transfer complications
The Mirror reports that the upcoming Newcastle versus Liverpool fixture on Monday night could complicate transfer negotiations further. The transfer window remains open until September 1, leaving several weeks for the saga to potentially resolve.
Newcastle appear to be preparing for Isak's potential departure, with the Daily Star reporting the club is targeting Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves as a possible replacement. The situation continues to escalate as both sides maintain their public positions in what has become an increasingly bitter dispute.
Sources used: "Liverpool Echo", "Mirror", "Daily Star", "Chronicle Live", "GB News", "PA Media"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
