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Over the past month or so, it seems everyone has offered their opinion on the Alexander Isak saga and his stated wish to depart Newcastle this summer.
Isak's stance is unambiguous - he wants to move to Liverpool. The issue is that Liverpool must provide the required funds if it is serious about securing one of the Premier League and Europe's finest strikers.
Thus far, the Reds haven't approached Newcastle's asking price with their single bid, leaving us in this tricky predicament regarding Isak's future. Doubts persist about whether there's a path back for the player into the first-team setup, though Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has confirmed such a route exists.
With Newcastle preparing to welcome Liverpool on Monday at St. James' Park, speculation surrounding Isak will only grow.
Throughout all this discussion, former Newcastle player and supporter favorite Shaka Hislop may have delivered the most compelling perspective on the matter with a passionate assessment of recent events.
Speaking on ESPN football, Hislop had no issue with Isak opting to leave if that's his preference, but took significant exception to the statement released by the player last week declaring: "The reality is that promises were made - and the club has known my position for a long time."
The club countered this statement by maintaining no such promises were ever made.
Hislop didn't hold back on the matter, stating: "You don't go back to your former club to train. You don't miss preseason.
"You don't stay away from the football club. And then in mid-August, claim a moral high ground!
"You've given that up. If that is what you are doing, do it and own it. But you don't get to turn around six weeks into it and claim some kind of moral high ground here.
"I don't understand Alexander Isak's position and that ridiculous statement on social media. I do not understand who is advising him.
"I cannot think of any way he could have got this more wrong. It's an absolute farce."
Howe was asked about Isak during his most recent press conference. He said: "He's contracted to us, he's our player. My wish is that he would be playing on Monday night with us. But he won't be, and that's regrettable."
Howe added: "I have no doubt about how the players will feel (about Isak). They will feel the same way I do.
"Alex is a fantastic player, he's a good person, a good character and a good lad.
"If Alex wanted to come back and play for us, the players would welcome him."
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