Alexander Isak agreement speaks volumes with Liverpool target quickly losing allies

Talk of Alexander Isak's anticipated switch to Liverpool has eased in recent weeks, though the controversy over the Swede's behavior remains intense.

Many Newcastle supporters are justifiably frustrated amid their forward's summer standoff aimed at engineering a move to Anfield. Since arriving on Tyneside in 2022, Isak has been a standout performer, twice helping the Magpies secure Champions League football.

However, his hero reputation took a major hit when he refused to travel on the club's pre-season tour amid interest from the Reds, leading to him being told to train alone. While some observers have shown understanding toward Isak's stance, the majority of analysts appear united in their criticism.

Here, Liverpool.com has compiled the views of some of the most prominent mouthpieces as uncertainty surrounds Isak's future at St James' Park.

Ally McCoist against "throwing the toys out"

Ally McCoist, who spent two seasons with Newcastle's arch rivals Sunderland, has expressed support for the Magpies' approach to the dispute. With three years left on Isak's contract, Newcastle is under no immediate obligation to cash in unless a suitable offer arrives.

McCoist feels Isak is facing the fallout of his own decisions after isolating himself from the group. "I think he's acted poorly," he told the Mirror. "Not all players but some players and people forget that if you sign a contract, you are clearly happy with the contract.

"You can't sign a contract with the intention of doing well, throwing the toys out and demanding a move. You can't do that. If you sign a contract then you have to say, 'I'm here for three years, four years and that I'm going to honour that contract.

"You sign it because you're happy with it. I think he's been poor. You can't behave like that. The one set of supporters that won't let you away with it are Newcastle fans. It's hard to argue with them."

Alan Pardew criticism

Former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, who won Premier League Manager of the Season in 2012 after leading the side back into Europe, is familiar with dressing-room unrest. While some would accept a big-money bid and seek a replacement, Pardew sees no urgency, believing Newcastle maintain the advantage in negotiations, even if the striker remains unsettled.

"The transfer to me looks like it can't be done because Newcastle are going to dig their heels in now, and I think they are angry," he told talkSPORT. "I would also be if I was on the Newcastle board.

"I would dig my heels in, so the fee could go really silly. The problem is, he's handled it so badly. He couldn't have handled it any worse.

"His agents and advisors have said to him to throw down the tools after serving that great football club, and he's doing really bad things to hold them to ransom and more or less force a way out."

Gabby Agbonlahor: "He should be punished"

Ex-Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor is another pundit who feels Isak must face consequences. The 38-year-old, who played 391 times for Villa, might have added motivation given Newcastle meet his former team on the Premier League's opening weekend.

Still, Agbonlahor maintains that leniency would send the wrong message to other professionals. TalkSPORT presenter Natalie Sawyer noted that Isak will have to work on "earning the right" to reclaim his role, prompting Agbonlahor to say: "And so he should, because it sets a bad example to other players, if he's straight back in and training like nothing's happened.

"He refused to go on tour with the team, which is wild, walked out of training, went and trained with [former employers] Real Sociedad as well. So he should be punished."

Wright-Phillips calls for "respect"

Shaun Wright-Phillips was a man of relatively few words as a player, but his actions often did the talking. And the son of Arsenal legend Ian could never be criticized for a lack of commitment, having to convince coaches he was of the top grade despite his diminutive frame.

But even the former Manchester City winger, who has said he cried after being forced to join Chelsea, came out firing when quizzed about Isak's conduct of late. And he didn't hold back when asked for his views on the striker refusing to fulfil team duties and putting his own desires first.

"I think he's handled it very badly, because everyone knows you want out, but you should go and train," Wright-Phillips told AceOdds.com. "You're not affecting the club, you're affecting the players you've been to war with for the last three seasons. Have a little bit of respect for your team-mates, turn up to train and then go home."

Liverpool's pursuit appears to have cooled since their £120million bid was rejected, arguably underlining Wright-Phillips' point that putting self-interest first can backfire.

"Everyone's been in a position in football where they don't want to be somewhere but there's only some who don't show up for training," he added. "He's obviously been advised to do that because the person I've seen talk and be around in Newcastle doesn't seem like that's in his character."

Jamie Carragher warns Isak has "outgrown" Toon

When Isak signed from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m, Newcastle knew it had landed a rare talent - though perhaps not the rapid rise they've seen. Three years later, Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher feels the forward has "outgrown" the Magpies.

While admitting he would like his former club to sign him, Carragher risked upsetting Newcastle fans by pointing to the gap in stature between the two sides. "I've had this at Liverpool. Sometimes a player outgrows the team," he said on The Overlap. "You're a team who will fight to qualify for the Champions League. He can play in a team that can win it.

"When that gap becomes too big, that's when you've got a problem. It happened to us with Liverpool with Steven Gerrard, but we were lucky that he was a Liverpool fan and he was from the city. If Steven Gerrard wasn't a Liverpool fan, he would've left, because he was here [up high] and the team was there [down low]."

Michael Owen sympathy

Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen has taken a softer tone, arguing the issue is being exaggerated. Recalling his own contentious exit from Liverpool in 2004 - when he declined to play in Europe to keep his options open for Real Madrid - Owen empathises with Isak's predicament.

"This is not a strange scenario," he said. "It happens all the time. It's a high-profile scenario, but it's the same scenario as what happens all the time.

"There are a lot of simple things that go into the discussion. From Newcastle's point of view, they've got a player who's under contract, and they've got to weigh up the balance of the finances, what they could receive, maybe having an unhappy player, or maybe keeping someone against his will."

Alan Shearer won't join in boos

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, surprisingly to some, has approached the topic without hostility. He believes a sale would be justified if the price is right.

That figure is reportedly £150m, leaving doubt as to whether Liverpool - or any club - would meet the valuation. Nevertheless, Shearer was clear that persuading a reluctant player to stay isn't in the club's interest.

"I think up until now it's been a disastrous window for Newcastle," he said on The Rest Is Football podcast. "They're probably gonna lose their best player, one of the league's best centre forwards, if not the best.

"But I'm okay with the situation. I thought he might have stayed for another summer, and then this would have happened next summer. But it is what it is.

"If he can't be persuaded to stay, then if someone offers Newcastle what they want, then they've got to take it. Because, ultimately, you just say, 'Thank you very much for the great memories you've given us, and off you go.'"