1 day ago
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Stan Collymore believes Alexander Isak must submit a formal transfer request if he wants to secure his dream switch from Newcastle to Liverpool.
The former Reds striker, who became Britain's most expensive footballer when he joined Anfield three decades ago from Nottingham Forest, suggests the "f----- up nature" of soccer could even see the unsettled Isak pen a fresh deal at St. James' Park should the transfer collapse.
Liverpool saw a bid turned down by the Magpies in early August following Isak's private admission that he wished to depart the North East after three years. Isak chose not to accompany his teammates on their pre-season Far East tour in July, citing a minor thigh complaint, and has been training in isolation since before being omitted from Saturday's goalless stalemate with Aston Villa in the Premier League.
He is virtually guaranteed to miss Monday's encounter between the two sides at St. James' Park.
The Sweden international made his Anfield ambitions public on Tuesday, releasing a statement via his Instagram account moments after being named in the PFA Team of the Year for 24/25, a season in which he netted 23 league strikes and propelled the Magpies to Champions League qualification plus their first domestic silverware in 70 years with the Carabao Cup triumph.
Following Isak's initial statement that referenced unfulfilled commitments and his wish to depart St. James' Park, ex-Reds striker Collymore weighed in on the discussion, writing on X: "A lot to unpack."
Collymore noted how Isak is "under contract" and believes he will not submit a "transfer request as it means giving up a large chunk of bonus/loyalty/salary."
The ex-player added: "If Newcastle said to him and his agent a year ago, 'We'll let him go if he has a great season,' but it wasn't written down, tough on Isak.
"If the player wants to leave but doesn't want to go on the transfer list, then that's the player wanting that cake and eating it. If he's desperate to leave, put in a request, that alerts every club on earth of his availability."
Collymore believes Isak should consider changing his agent. The ex-pro insists he would "sack the agent if I'd received the advice he has, because his contract didn't have a 'if you do well you can go at £xxxx'" clause included in it.
He added: "Any public statement can be used in any tribunal against the (pl)ayer do advise him to keep it shut. P--- poor agent work, naive player, 'possible' reneging (pure speculation at this point) on handshake by club, a football transfer room 101 in how not to handle a febrile situation."
Newcastle subsequently responded to Isak's social media statement, maintaining there had been no agreement to permit his departure this summer and indicated the circumstances that would have facilitated his exit now appear unlikely as it faces ongoing challenges in securing a suitable replacement.
Writing after Newcastle's statement was released later that evening, Collymore continued: "So of course Newcastle United double down after Isak's statement and say conditions haven't been met for a sale, he'd be welcomed back and effectively saying they never said he could leave.
"The last sentence (if Isak was promised something) is going to take some reconciling because that's one side saying the other isn't telling the truth. But the f------ up nature of football is such that who'd be surprised at Isak signing a new contract in 5 days time, smiling and it was 'a miscommunication.'"
Collymore believes Liverpool may have to pay up to £150 million ($202 million) to land Isak. He continued: "Not convinced they (Liverpool) need him at that value."
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