14 hours ago
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Newcastle United icon Les Ferdinand has accused Alexander Isak of throwing Premier League transfers into disarray after his controversial exit from St James' Park this summer.
The ex-England ace was left frustrated by Isak's conduct as he engineered a record switch to Liverpool, doubling his weekly wage by refusing to participate in pre-season training or matches. Ferdinand believes that Isak's successor, Yoane Wissa, was swayed by Isak's very public protest, leading Brentford to reluctantly sell the DR Congo forward to Newcastle.
Ferdinand commented: "The way it has happened, everybody is talking about what's next for other players in future windows. Alex has set a precedent now, the way players may go about things. I'm not just having a go at Alexander Isak, Yoane Wissa is included in that as well. People are going to look at contracts now and say: 'What are they actually worth?' If a player can down tools.
"You have players who are on six year or seven year deals, if you can down tools and say: 'I ain't playing for you anymore, I want a move'. In that case, contracts mean nothing."
Ferdinand himself made significant transfer moves during his playing career, departing QPR for Newcastle in 1995 before joining Tottenham Hotspur two years later. Ferdinand added: "I can 100 percent see why Isak wanted Liverpool.
"The analogy is Newcastle are building the tower still, Liverpool's tower is already built and they are putting in the soft furnishing. Liverpool won the league last year and they look a strong outfit and want to add to what they've won.
"Historically, they are a fantastic club, and Isak will double his money. So all the incentives are there for him as a player, and I totally get it from a player point of view. I just don't like the way he went about it.
"There are ways to do things and he could have still had the outcome he wanted, he could have left Newcastle a hero still. But the way he went about it rankles."
Wissa arrives with the immediate expectation of bringing firepower to Eddie Howe's attack, and Ferdinand believes he's more than up to the task.
Ferdinand commented: "Wissa is of an age now where he is ready to take on the No.9 shirt.
"Wissa has had a couple of good years now in the Premier League with Brentford scoring goals. OK, perhaps he is not the traditional center-forward or No.9 you would think about wearing the No.9 for Newcastle, but I am sure he will go there and thrive.
"I am still of the opinion that I am not sure I liked the way he went about things. The same way I didn't like the way Isak went about things, but that is by the by now.
"It's done and dusted so it is about, from a Newcastle point of view, Wissa needs to get his head down and score goals.
"He has proven that he can score goals in the Premier League and he seems pretty confident that he can do it at Newcastle on a regular basis, it's exactly what we need."
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