Alexander Isak was condemned by Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ally McCoist after it was revealed that the Swede, who has moved out of his rental property in the north east, has no plans to ever play for Newcastle again
Alexander Isak was slammed in a scathing assessment by Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ally McCoist after it was revealed the striker is refusing to play for Newcastle United again, as he pushes to join Premier League winners Liverpool.
After Liverpool had a bid of £120million, including add-ons, rejected for the 25-year-old earlier this month, Isak made his desire to join the Merseysiders' clear, although they've yet to return with a second bid.
With the Magpies failing to sign Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, who instead joined Liverpool and Manchester United respectively, and a plethora of centre-forwards so far this summer, Isak has remained on Tyneside. With less than three weeks to go in the window, his future is anything but certain.
Isak is adamant that he has played his final game for the club. It comes after a season where he scored a career-best 23 league goals while leading them to the EFL Cup – their first trophy in 70 years.
The striker - who has been training on his own since the squad's pre-season return - has no plans to reintegrate himself into the team, even if the club decide not to sell him this summer. It's also understood that Isak has also moved out of his Newcastle home, with the property put back on the rental market.
As such, he has come under renewed fire from talkSPORT duo McCoist and Agbonlahor, who offered a damning assessment of Isak's behaviour. After reading aloud claims Isak has played his final game for the Magpies, Agbonlahor lamented: "Who does he think he is? Disgusting, what that club has done for you."
McCoist chimed in and asked: "If you're Liverpool, is that the kind of person you want to be signing?"
Aston Villa legend Agbonlahor then expressed sympathy with Newcastle fans and claimed that Isak would do the same to Liverpool should a potential move to Real Madrid in the future come about.
"Real Madrid want him in two years when he's 27, he'll do the same to you," Agbonlahor said. "The fact that Newcastle missed out on Sesko have got every right to say, 'Listen, you're going nowhere, we've lost Callum Wilson, we can't get Wissa over the line yet.'
"I'm not a Newcastle fan but I'm fuming for them. You've had a fantastic season, settle down a bit mate. I get it, you want to go and explore and go for a bigger club but if it doesn't suit the club, shut up.
"Get your boots on, big season for Newcastle [who] want to start the season well [at] Villa away, and now you're adamant you don't want to play?"
With Newcastle taking on Aston Villa in their Premier League opener on Saturday, Isak is not expected to play a part with Liverpool continuing to hold an interest in the striker. He is said to have told Eddie Howe last season about his decision to seek pastures new after being told last year that he wouldn't be offered a new contract.
Howe's side are running out of the time to add attacking reinforcements, which would potentially pave the way for Isak to join the league champions.
Porto striker Samu Omorodion and Chelsea frontman Nicolas Jackson are among those said to be of interest to the Magpies. Brentford star Yoan Wissa has been a long-standing target but Newcastle's prior £25m bid was swiftly rejected by the west London side.