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For better or worse, Alexander Isak has proved he won't be pushed around - and his sharp reply to former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag showed exactly that.
If Liverpool manages to sign him this summer, it's clear what type of personality they'll be buying into. The Swedish striker has faced criticism in recent weeks as rumors swirl of a potentially record-breaking transfer to Anfield.
But Isak has never been one to back down. One particularly telling retort came when Ten Hag accused Newcastle of time-wasting in the 2023 Carabao Cup final.
"We know they delay," the Dutchman argued at the time. "It's something referees don't want." When Newcastle beat United 2-0 later that season, Isak hit back: "I don't really agree.
"We worked with intensity, and we were the team that wanted to win - the team bringing the game forward." He doubled down, turning the accusation on its head.
"They wasted more time than us," he insisted. "I don't put too much focus on that. I think we put in a great performance."
The quotes highlight Isak's combative nature and unwillingness to relent - a mindset that now appears to be driving his push to join Liverpool. The Premier League champions are eager to add him to their forward line, which already features a frightening trio of Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.
Liverpool broke the British transfer record once this summer after shelling out on a deal totaling £116 million ($157M) for Wirtz, and will likely have to do so again if they're to land Isak. Newcastle are holding out for £150M ($203M) - a price Liverpool is looking to negotiate down.
For now, the saga is at a standstill. But Isak is prepared to force the issue amid reports he could go on strike and refuse to play for the club - even if Newcastle fails to sanction his departure.
His urgency may be elevated by the fact that Ekitike, signed for £69M ($94M) from Eintracht Frankfurt, has hit the ground running at Anfield, with goals in both the Community Shield and Saturday's league win over Bournemouth - suggesting they may not need Isak.
The Swede missed Newcastle's pre-season trip to Asia and sat out the Premier League opener at Aston Villa on Saturday. Anthony Gordon was tasked with leading the line as a makeshift No. 9, with Newcastle yet to source a replacement for Isak.
Frustrated fans didn't hold back during and after the game - which ended 0-0. Many branded Isak "greedy" and belted out a fresh terrace chant: "We don't care about Isak, he don’t care about me. All we care about is NUFC."
Asked about the song, Toon manager Eddie Howe refused to condemn it. "Whatever happens, I think the supporters acted really well today because they supported the team," he said.
"Not everything has been plain sailing but they've always been with the team. And then if afterwards they want to say something, I think they're very free to do that."
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