The last thing that Eddie Howe and Newcastle United needed ahead of the start of their Premier League campaign was another fresh storm to navigate.
Monday started the week relatively smoothly, with the Malick Thiaw deal making nice progress, and even rumours of a potential move for Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss.
But then Tuesday’s news that Alexander Isak was adamant about never playing for the club again landed, and it’s put the club in perhaps its most uncomfortable position yet in regards to keeping or selling the Swede.
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville has provided quite an interesting take on the saga, and it’s one that plenty of Newcastle fans will agree with…
Neville: “Dangerous precedent” set if Isak leaves Newcastle
Speaking online about the Isak and Liverpool drama, Neville believes that Newcastle has only one option this summer: keeping Isak.
It’s an unusually positive attitude towards us from the former Manchester United man, who delivers scathing criticism of Isak and the actions of him and his agent.
“Isak should be angry with his agent. It’s unsavoury. I feel for Eddie Howe.”
Somewhat sympathetically, Neville adds “Isak wants to win trophies and is agitating for a move because he’s got one career. At 25, he’s got five or six good years left.”
But it’s here where Neville believes we have to put our foot down and stop the ongoing situation escalating any further.
“It looks like this guy is downing tools and saying he’s not playing and I don’t think that’s 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.”
Is Neville right regarding Isak?
From a pure quality of football point-of-view, then we’d be mad to sell Isak at this stage of the window. Absolutely integral to our success last season, he’ll be equally as important if we want to make any sort of progress in the Premier League or Champions League over the next nine months.
Coupled with the fact that there’s almost no strikers on the market who can match Isak for numbers and potential, as well as every club in the world being prepared to make us overpay for a forward should we sell Isak, and it’s a bad decision all around.
Neville is particularly right when he says that selling Isak after everything that has happened sets a dangerous precedent: that if a player kicks up enough of a fuss and then refuses to play, then we’ll back down and give the player what they want.
By all accounts, we have done the right thing every step of the way so far: expecting Isak to honour his current contract, plus allowing him to be absent from media duties and the pre-season tour to concentrate on his recovery plus deal with the ongoing transfer situation.
So if we were to sell him now, after the club and the manager’s name have been dragged through the mud over the course of the past fortnight, then what would stop another big star in the future doing the exact same thing, regardless of how loyal and supportive of the club they seem just months prior like Isak appeared to be.
Not often I agree with Neville, but I’ve been saying exactly the same thing.
MorpethMag(Quote)
SAMU. THAT’S IT ??
S.dodds(Quote)
The top and bottom of its Newcastle Utd paid 63 million and allowed for over 36 million in wages. Which was three years ago. The Saudis know that to replace Isaac then the amount they committed to has to be far greater due to inflation, supply and the high class player the club developed.
The 110 million seems to be a huge offer but in reality it is only 10 million more to compensate for the loss of a player they reckoned would come at a total of 100 million 3 years ago. And wasn’t as good.
Therefore 150 million isn’t unreasonable to ask. If the stories are true he has told the club he won’t play for them again he should consider the above. I think the Newcastle Utd owners valuation and view of behaviour of a number of parties concerned in this saga will only make them more determined not to sell. To the owners 100 million is peanuts. Strength is priceless.
Up your offer Lpool considerably or you won’t get him. Simple as that. If you don’t think he’s worth it tell him before he falls foul of poorly considered behaviour.
The little birdy(Quote)
Players have too much power. The club should sue Isak for breach of contract, and fine him full weeks wages for every week he’s been absent. This may set a precedent and prevent other players doing the same thing to the clubs who have invested in then and supported their development, he is a disgrace
Mark Richardson(Quote)
I agree with the Agent being poor.
What I don’t get with it all, is Isak is clearly about the ca$h. When he was on a promise of whatever the contract was £250 a week say, he never had a problem with the level of ambition or progress of the club, then when he didn’t get his 100k pw pay rise it became a problem. I think the progress, winning stuff, one career, etc allthough true points has been a native put out into the he press by his agent to justify his behaviour.
But from the agents perspective, 3yrs ago he was happy with his contract without a release clause. Before the Lpool fans jump in his numbers were bang average / poor in Spain and Germany. So the contract at the time was arguably bigger than what his output justified.
But surely he should have waited another season, his value would be more, more clubs interested driving his wages up higher, bonuses, etc. He’s now got an option of 1 club, if I were Lpool surely you low ball him on wages as well now, we will give you £250 rather than the £325 you could get elsewhere, because where else are you going to go?
Leo88(Quote)
GNev and all the rest of the so called pundits & journalists can go **** themselves!!.
He says Isak is agitating for a move – probably coz Nev and the rest of his pundit cronies spent most of last season talking about Isak going to Arsenal and the talking as if the player was too big for Newcastle.
These pillocks change their opinion from 1 conversation to the next.
I’m pretty sure Howe would swap his pity for him and his mates stopping talking about his players going off to other clubs – Isak to Arsenal & Gordon to Lpool was a regular chat last season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
This player is a disgrace he would not be the player he is today if it wasn’t for Newcastle tuition the players around him and the manager coaches etc and the supporters who loved him but I think he needs to look around and smell the coffee no one is bigger than there club and that’s any club Martin scope too on army
Martin Scope(Quote)
An answer to Isak if he refuses to play!
Keep his registration but don’t play him, and don’t pay him either because if he refuses to play he’ll be in breach of contract!
And he can probably say goodbye to his World Cup selection!
Laurie(Quote)
Fans have been conned? Which overpaid players have kissed the badge whilst on the “Gravy Train” only to jump off at the next stop to kiss someone else’s badge who are waving the cheque book…Its Generally not the local lads!
Toonie(Quote)
Toonie Gaza, Beardsley, Waddle, Carroll?
nutmag(Quote)
Carroll never wanted to leave tbf, you could even see at the time really and various people have confirmed that since. The rest yes, especially that mackem t!t waddle. Beardsley downed tools as well according to my dad (before my time)
East stand(Quote)
Clearly a final throw of the dice by Isak’s agents – they know they have no cards left to play and this is desperation. Isak’s either gullible or terribly advised (or both). Wouldn’t want to be in his shoes when he doesn’t get a move and has to front-up to his colleagues.
Peaco(Quote)
I agree with Gary. We are his employers and Isak has to face employment disciplinary procedures but must not be sold this window. He is just an employee. Newcastle has a signed contract with Isak that Isak must honour. He does not come out of this in a very good light.
Martyn Hancock(Quote)
Not sure that Liverpool , the fans
Or the squad want a man like isak in the dressing room .. trust on and off the pitch is a bedrock of team sports ., you can’t lay the blame on the agent but squarely on isak .. revealed as a pretty loathsome character
Mike(Quote)