18 godzin temu
Jamie Carragher has delivered a scathing verdict on Alexander Isak's conduct at Newcastle United, branding the striker's behaviour as "toxic" amid the ongoing transfer saga with Liverpool. The former Liverpool defender criticised Isak for "downing tools" and refusing to reintegrate with the Newcastle squad despite being fit for selection.
Liverpool want Isak, and Isak wants Liverpool. Newcastle's conditions for sale, despite maintaining they won't sell, include a £150 million offer and two replacements of similar standard.
Player's stance creates impasse
With that looking increasingly unlikely, Isak's camp have told Newcastle he considers his time at St James' Park to be up. He is not interested in reintegrating into the squad and will not be considered for Saturday's Premier League opener against Aston Villa despite being fit.
The situation has stretched to breaking point, with some Liverpool fans seeing Isak's hard line as cause for celebration. But Carragher, who sounds decidedly lukewarm about the deal, is not one of them.
Carragher condemns player conduct
"I don't like it when a player downs tools," Carragher tells The i Paper. "I wouldn't like it if it was a Liverpool player and I do feel for the Newcastle fans a bit. He's obviously a god to them, a hero."
Carragher believes Isak will be at Anfield before 1 September and that Newcastle fans will begrudgingly recognise he wants to compete for the biggest trophies. But taking the nuclear option of refusing selection is never the right path.
Parallels with Gerrard situation
"I don't think any Newcastle fan is naive to think that Alexander Isak is going to spend his whole career at the club," Carragher continues. "Sometimes a problem occurs - and it happened at Liverpool when I was there with Steven Gerrard - where the player outgrows the club."
"Newcastle are delighted to be in the Champions League, Isak wants to win it. That's when you have a problem and the player wants to move on," he explains. The striker has three years remaining on his contract, giving Newcastle significant negotiating power without a buy-out clause.
Ekitike situation complicates matters
The genesis of the issue appears to be the late July wrangle for Hugo Ekitike. Newcastle moved for the 23-year-old striker, insisting they wanted him and Isak in the same squad.
But Isak thought that move, which coincided with Liverpool's first contact with Newcastle, was the green light for him to go. What occurred was Liverpool signing Ekitike for £80 million and unsettling Isak.
Carragher questions Liverpool strategy
Carragher admits to feeling confused by Liverpool's approach. "I'm a bit uneasy because Liverpool have already bought a striker for a hefty sum of money," he says.
"I just scratch my head to think where he gets his minutes if Isak signs because you wouldn't be able to leave him out," he continues. "I do worry a little bit for Ekitike."
Sources used: "The i" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
