For better or worse, Alexander Isak has made it clear he won’t shy away from confrontation – as seen in his bold answer to ex-Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. The Liverpool squad already know the type of personality they’ll inherit if they smash the British transfer record to secure him this summer.
The Newcastle United striker has faced heavy criticism recently while pushing for a blockbuster switch to Anfield – but he’s shown he can give as much as he takes when under fire. A perfect example came after Ten Hag accused Newcastle of time-wasting in the 2023 Carabao Cup final. “We know they delay,” the then-United boss complained. “It’s something referees dislike.”
Isak quickly hit back when quizzed about the remarks following Newcastle’s 2-0 league victory over United a few weeks later. “I don’t really agree,” he said bluntly. “We played with intensity, and we were the team that wanted to win – the team driving the match forward.”
He went even further. Turning the spotlight on United, Isak continued: “They wasted more time than us. I don’t focus too much on that. I think we delivered an excellent performance.”
Those comments underline Isak’s fiery streak and determination to stand firm – traits reflected in his current push to secure a Liverpool transfer this summer. The Reds could add the 25-year-old to a glittering attack already featuring Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.
Liverpool are now weighing up breaking the British transfer record for the second time this summer to land him, after doing so with Wirtz in a £116m package. Newcastle, however, remain firm with a £150m demand – a figure the Reds will surely try to negotiate down.
That deadlock could soon come to a head. Reports claim Isak is prepared to go on strike and refuse to feature for Newcastle if his transfer plea is rejected, ramping up the pressure on the club.
Yet Liverpool’s urgency may already be fading due to Ekitike’s electric start at Anfield. Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69m, the French striker has quickly impressed, scoring in the Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace before netting again in Friday’s win over Bournemouth.
The Isak saga is far from settled, and with Newcastle still without a replacement, there’s no certainty their stance will shift. He missed the squad’s pre-season trip to Asia and even threatened to withdraw his services completely.
His absence was clear on Saturday when he was excluded from Newcastle’s league opener against Aston Villa, forcing Anthony Gordon to play as a false No. 9. The game ended 0-0, with Newcastle failing to take advantage of Ezri Konsa’s dismissal in the 66th minute.
Eddie Howe’s men dominated possession and created 16 attempts, but only three tested the goalkeeper – a stat showing just how much they lacked Isak’s sharpness. Labeled “greedy” by some, the away support even composed a new chant for their once-loved star striker.
“We don’t care about Isak, he don’t care about me,” they sang as they left the ground. “All we care about is NUFC.” When asked about the chant, Howe declined to criticise.
“Whatever happens, I think the fans behaved superbly today because they got behind the team,” he said. “It hasn’t always been smooth but they’ve consistently backed the players. And if afterwards they want to voice opinions, they’re fully entitled to do that.”
