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Alan Shearer is shocked that Alexander Isak failed to demand a release clause during his Newcastle contract negotiations.
The striker's relationship with the Magpies has reached crisis point as he desperately pushes for a sensational switch to Liverpool. The Sweden international has been the Reds' No. 1 attacking target for weeks, with a potentially record-breaking British transfer on the cards.
Liverpool has already seen a $148 million (£110M) offer rejected, as Newcastle remains resolute in their $202M (£150M) asking price. The situation escalated on Tuesday when the forward issued a damning social media statement.
He alleged broken promises and shattered trust meant a departure would benefit all parties. Newcastle responded immediately with their own statement, refuting any such guarantees to the player and emphasizing their expectation that Isak will remain and rejoin the squad - despite claims he has sworn never to represent the Magpies again.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Newcastle legend Shearer suggested that if Isak - who joined the club from Real Sociedad in 2022 - harboured exit ambitions, he should never have committed to a six-year deal without securing a formal escape route.
"It's a sad situation," the 55-year-old said. "I was flabbergasted at his statement. He felt, or his representatives felt, it was best putting something out. But that was chucking petrol on the fire.
"It was just bizarre, to say that someone had agreed [to let him leave in the summer] verbally, with him or his agent. You're in football for goodness' sake. I would have a look at the agent, if I was him, to say why on Earth are you advising me to sign, or letting me sign, a six-year contract without any get-out clause? That's what I'd be saying - you need something in writing.
"When you're in a strong position, as he was, when they were paying sixty-odd million pound for him, on a six-year deal, and there's no get-out clause, you all know as well as I do, we've all been in the game long enough, you can't just accept [verbal promises].
"And by the way, who was it [that made the promise]? What did they say? And when did they say it? That would be the next questions... but you can't just say, okay, at the end of the next season then we might perhaps agree to let you go verbally. Football doesn't work like that."
Isak's frustration is also understood to stem from Newcastle's apparent U-turn on a pledged contract extension last summer. The 25-year-old was reportedly given assurances of fresh terms that would have positioned him amongst the Premier League's highest-paid players, but a shift in leadership at St James' Park, and worries over PSR adherence, are thought to have derailed the arrangement.
It's claimed that Isak made his intentions to leave clear shortly after the contract breakdown, although many at Newcastle dispute this. He is reported to have reiterated his desire to move on at the end of the 2024/25 season, but kept his position private until August.
By that time, Liverpool had shown interest, but were taken aback by Newcastle's asking price. At that point, the Magpies were chasing Hugo Ekitike, only for Liverpool to lay down an ultimatum: sell us Isak, or we will sabotage your move for Ekitike.
Newcastle stood firm on Isak, but in doing so, missed out on Ekitike, who instead signed with Liverpool in a deal worth up to $106M (£79M). That seemed to conclude the saga, until days later when Isak reignited the situation by requesting Newcastle to "explore his options."
He was subsequently excluded from Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia and sat out the team's Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Saturday. The forward continues to train alone while his future remains uncertain, with only 10 days left in the transfer window and no clear resolution in sight.
Liverpool is still hovering but will likely need Newcastle to ease their demands before bidding again. Meanwhile, Isak is insistent that his time in Tyneside is over, but with three years remaining on his St James' Park contract, his employers hold a significant amount of leverage.
For now, the situation remains uncertain. The upcoming days will determine whether Isak's future is destined to be in Liverpool red or if he'll have to confront the uncomfortable task of mending fences in the North East. Regardless of how it finishes, it's one of the most captivating transfer battles the Premier League has witnessed in recent years.
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