Alan Shearer outraged by 'stupid' question as Alexander Isak accusation emerges

Alan Shearer has robustly responded to accusations of hypocrisy regarding his Alexander Isak stance.

The Newcastle legend has been critical of Isak's behavior, with the Swede pushing for a move to Liverpool and reportedly refusing to play for the Magpies in order to force the issue. However, some fans have pointed out that his stance on Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid earlier this year couldn't be any more different.

But Shearer has now hit back, insisting it "doesn't take a genius" to understand why he treats the two cases separately.

On The Rest is Football podcast, a listener asked: "Why has Alan's stance on Isak transfer saga different from when Trent Alexander-Arnold decided to leave Liverpool to join Real Madrid (Especially since he isn't a Geordie, Newcastle will get in excess of £100m for him)?"

Shearer replied by stressing that Alexander-Arnold handled himself differently. "What a stupid question that is," he said. "You can't compare them at all.

"Trent was a kid who was brought up in Liverpool, he came to the end of his contract, he didn't refuse to play, he didn't refuse to train and was then well within his rights to leave. Isak's got three years left on his contract, it doesn't take a genius to work that out does it? Come on."

Isak is currently training on his own and missed Newcastle's opening Premier League game of the campaign against Aston Villa at the weekend. On Tuesday, he released a blistering statement on Instagram, in which he spoke of "broken promises," a "loss of trust" and insisted his relationship with the club "cannot continue".

In response, however, Newcastle released a statement of their own, stressing that no promise of a future sale had been made and reiterating their stance that Isak will not leave unless Liverpool pay the club's $202 million (£150M) asking price.

Speaking to Betfair, Shearer suggested the situation with Isak may reach breaking point, forcing a move. Still, he refused to say the Swede deserves a warm farewell, previously remarking that "Alex is not going about it the right way at all."

He added: "My view is the same as it was three or four weeks ago. If Newcastle can get players in to replace him, and if Newcastle receive a bid they want to accept, then it may happen. If that doesn't happen, then he stays, and it becomes really messy. If Liverpool want him, then they put in an offer Newcastle will accept.

"They've been trying to do that for the past four or five weeks and haven't been able to. Whether they can do that in the next 10 days is doubtful, but there's still time. I think we're just sat here guessing, but last night's statement hasn't done him any favours whatsoever in terms of trying to get Newcastle onside or forcing them into a decision, I think they'll just go the opposite way."

Shearer has repeatedly expressed his displeasure at the way Isak and his camp have managed the saga, while stressing that his assessment of Alexander-Arnold's departure from Anfield was more sympathetic.

Alexander-Arnold sealed his move to Real Madrid this summer with only one month left on his Liverpool deal. Los Blancos paid £10m to release him early. Back in March, Shearer argued the defender had earned a respectful send-off.

That came after some Liverpool fans vented their anger online and sections of the crowd booed him during a 2-2 draw against Arsenal.

"I just look at some of the comments, and a lot of the time I don't because it irritates me," Shearer said. "But when I looked at some of the comments on Tuesday when the news broke, I know it's his club but he's been brilliant for Liverpool, played a huge part in everything they've done in the last few years and he's won every single trophy with them.

"He should be given a great send-off from the Liverpool fans if it happens. There hasn't been a single occasion where you can question his attitude, he's always given his all and he's tried to do it in the correct way. He hasn't got involved in all the talk.

"I just think, if he is going to leave, he should leave with everyone applauding him for what he's done for that brilliant football club. Trent is leaving a huge powerhouse of a football club and joining another one in Real Madrid."

Although Shearer's words about Isak sometimes mirrored his tone on Alexander-Arnold, he has consistently avoided calling for the Swede to get the same kind of send-off he believes the Liverpool star deserved.

"You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150m, and if he [Isak] really, really wants to go, you can't step in his way," Shearer said in July.

"Isak has been brilliant for Newcastle, helped us achieve our dream of winning a trophy and if there's no way whatsoever that he can be persuaded to stay at Newcastle, then they have to get the best deal possible and if someone's prepared to pay what they want, you have to say thank you and build for the future. There's no individual bigger than the football club."