2 weeks ago
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Alexander Isak has been warned by Simon Jordan to "buckle up," as Newcastle may well stand firm and inform the Swedish striker that he's going nowhere.
The forward recently made it known to the Magpies that he wishes to explore opportunities elsewhere, with Liverpool emerging as his most probable destination. The Reds hold significant interest in the player and, despite outlaying more than $300 million this summer, could re-enter the market in pursuit of Isak.
He has established himself as among Europe's finest No. 9s in recent seasons, with Newcastle placing a £150 million ($200.2 million) valuation on him, though the Magpies are equally reluctant to part with their star asset as they gear up for another Champions League campaign.
Liverpool is hoping to secure a potential £120 million ($160.1 million) agreement.
Isak has been absent from Newcastle's preseason tour with fitness concerns given as the reason, and the former Crystal Palace owner has urged Liverpool to accelerate its recruitment efforts and submit an offer, while also maintaining that the Magpies are perfectly entitled to safeguard their prized possession and their club.
"There's also a school of thought that he can do whatever he please," Jordan told talkSPORT. "He can also do as he's bloody told, buckle up and do as he's told.
"It depends how strong a football club wants to be. Liverpool can sit there... Look, if Liverpool want to buy this player, then they should get on with trying to buy him, and Newcastle have got to be very strong in what they want.
"I don't really care what Alexander Isak wants right now.
"If I'm the owner of the football club, the manager of the football club, my job is to make sure that I'm okay.
"So if you want to come and buy my player, come buy him or bugger off.
"Don't use all the forces of the fact that you're a football club that achieved something last year, your second Premier League title in 33 years, but you've achieved it now, and in the last five years, your club has re-emerged as a force in English football, dominating leagues.
"But don't use that as an opportunity just to unsettle the player.
"Make a bid, or I'm going to make it really, really hard for you to buy this player. And I'm going to take the consequences of it, and the player will have to accept the principles of what I'm saying, and it can be done."
Newcastle has yet to lose a marquee player since its Saudi ownership took control, with few stars even agitating for moves away.
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