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Liverpool transfer target Alexander Isak has been blasted as "disgusting" by Gabby Agbonlahor, who was reacting to news that the player supposedly doesn't intend to play for Newcastle again in a bid to force a move.
So far, Newcastle has been insistent that Isak will not be leaving. It rejected an opening offer for Isak, thought to be worth around $148 million (£110 million), and has so far struggled to bring in potential replacements for the 25-year-old, including Benjamin Sesko, who chose to join Manchester United instead.
"Who do you think you are, mate?" Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT. "Disgusting. What that club's done for you."
"If you're Liverpool, is that the kind of person that you want to be signing?" Ally McCoist questioned.
On Tuesday, it was reported by The Times that Isak had moved out of his house in the North East. Earlier, The Athletic reported that the Swede believes his career at St. James' Park is over.
"If Real Madrid want him in two years when he is 27, he will do the same to you," Agbonlahor said. "Newcastle missed out on Sesko and have got every right to say, 'Listen, you're going nowhere.'
"They've got Villa at the weekend and they could do with him there. I'm fuming. I'm not a Newcastle fan, but I'm fuming for them.
"Who does this guy think he is? You've had a fantastic season but settle down a bit mate. I get that you want to go but if it doesn't suit the club, shut up.
"Get your boots on. It is a big season for Newcastle. You're starting the season with Villa away, a tough game, and now you're saying you're adamant you don't want to play? That's wound me up."
Isak is thought to have made it clear to Newcastle before the summer that he wanted to move on. However, Eddie Howe's side has failed to land any of its striker targets to date, though it could still bring in Yoane Wissa from Brentford.
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"I think everything is in play," Howe said after Newcastle's 2-0 defeat in a friendly against Atletico Madrid over the weekend. "I've said many times he is contracted to us. He is our player. The club makes the decision on his future.
"I don't know what that will be. Of course, I have a preferred outcome. I want the best and the strongest squad possible, but I also want players that really want to play for this football club."
Liverpool.com says: Isak has burned plenty of bridges at Newcastle, to the point that it will be very hard to reintegrate him into the team at this point. However, if he is forced to stay, he will almost certainly play matches.
Newcastle wants to keep its star man but an exit feels inevitable at some stage. The question is whether that is this summer or in a future window.
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