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Liverpool transfer target Alexander Isak has been slammed for his conduct this summer, with the Swede having sat out of the Magpies' opening Premier League game of the season against Aston Villa.
Isak would like to leave St. James' Park and take the next step in his career, but Newcastle does not want to cash in. Eddie Howe's side has also been struggling to sign a potential replacement, with Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, and others having ended up elsewhere.
And former Newcastle defender Stuart Pearce says he doesn't think the situation has been handled well by the Swede. Isak missed Newcastle's pre-season tour to Asia and has not trained with his teammates since then.
"I've played at Newcastle," Pearce said this week. "I'm really disappointed in him. I look at things like this. The football club has won their first trophy for God knows how long.
"The football club is doing brilliantly. The fans at Newcastle are arguably the best in the country, the most loyal in the country.
"And on the back of the big high that they've achieved, their best player, their best goal scorer, has decided to down tools and wants to leave the football club, and has had his head turned. Now that disappoints me a little bit.
"But then again, you're talking to a man who stayed loyal to Nottingham Forest when I had opportunities to leave to go to bigger clubs, because of the loyalty that I perceive that you have to give back as a player."
At the weekend, Newcastle's traveling supporters turned on Isak at the final whistle. Loud chants about the former Real Sociedad striker being "greedy" were audible at Villa Park.
After that, Magpies boss Howe said that nothing had changed with the situation. Liverpool plays Newcastle next Monday in the North East.
"I think [Howe has] been absolutely brilliant," Pearce, speaking to Best Betting Sites, said. "I think he's a very level manager.
"I've managed teams that have gone up against his Bournemouth side at times, and he's always struck me as someone who's very level in how he manages.
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"I think he's been exactly the same with Isak. There's a bit of frustration there. You understand that he's been put in a really difficult position as a manager.
"You know, trying to smooth it over with a player while biting your tongue slightly. The player, after the season they had, wants to leave the football club, which is hard to deal with.
"So it's a real balancing act. But I think Eddie's as suited as anybody to deal with situations like that. And I think he's an outstanding ambassador of the game. I really do."
According to The Athletic, Newcastle has identified Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen as a potential target to replace Isak and opened talks via intermediaries.
But until someone can be brought in, letting its main number nine leave is unlikely to be an option.
Liverpool.com says: Isak was never going to make Newcastle fans feel pleased that he wanted to leave, though the relationship does feel very broken now. The best thing for all parties is that there is a swift resolution.
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