Alexander Isak: How Newcastle dressing room responded to explosive statement

Alexander Isak ramped up his attempts to leave Newcastle for Liverpool with a strongly-worded statement and it appears that some of his teammates are not happy

The Newcastle dressing room is ‘split’ following Alexander Isak's explosive transfer statement. The Swedish striker has been keen to leave the club all summer and is desperate to force through a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

Newcastle have remained firm over his future, insisting that they will only sell should their demands be met. Isak has now ramped up his attempts to depart St James’ Park over recent days having slammed ‘broken promises’ in a brutal statement.

And that does not appear to have gone down well in the Newcastle dressing room. According to Mail Online, the team spirit remains strong among the club’s players but there is a divide down the middle when it comes to their star striker.

There are players that support Isak's stance - but perhaps more crucially, those who do not. Isak, 25, is still not training with his team-mates after choosing not to join the club on their pre-season tour to Asia.

Magpies midfielder Bruno Guimaraes issued his own cryptic response to Isak’s statement. Just minutes after the striker had taken to Instagram, the Brazilian midfielder shared an image of him proudly wearing a Newcastle shirt.

Guimaraes had previously been at the heart of his own transfer speculation but committed his future to the club by penning a new five-year deal earlier this year. Meanwhile, forward Anthony Gordon has also had his say on the situation.

Speaking after Newcastle’s opening day draw with Aston Villa, he claimed that the dressing room was still together. He said: "It has been difficult because we're such a tight-knit group. We've never really had any problems publicly and that being the first thing that has happened has tested us.

"But you see today, we still have that spirit and that togetherness. We work on it every day. That is never going to go regardless of individuals. We're a top group, our togetherness is top and it always will be.

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"It can do [bring the group closer together] but we're still together anyway. Things like things can sort of us test you and make you better in the end - and I think that is going to be the case."

Isak has three years remaining on his contract at St James’ Park but he appeared to suggest that he would never play for the club again. “I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken,” his statement read.

“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. 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.”

Since the bombshell was dropped on Tuesday night, Newcastle have doubled down on their commitment to keep the player, who helped end the club's long trophy drought. In a statement posted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Newcastle said: “We are disappointed to have been alerted to a social media post by Alexander Isak this evening.

"We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.

“We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired.

“We do not foresee those conditions being met. This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates.”

As for Liverpool, they remained steadfast in their ambition to sign the player and are said to be readying a British record transfer bid to once again test the resolve of their top-flight rivals.