7 hours ago
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Andy Carroll has criticized Alexander Isak for trying to force a move to Liverpool and says the striker has burned his bridges with Newcastle fans.
Isak has gone on strike and will not be involved in Newcastle's opening Premier League fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday as he has made it clear he wants to complete a move to Anfield. Liverpool has had one bid rejected for the Swedish international but that offer did not come close to Newcastle's valuation and the clubs remain at a standoff.
Carroll, 36, played for both clubs after Liverpool spent a club-record $47.4m (£35m) to sign him in 2011. But the Newcastle-born forward later returned to St James' Park and insisted he never wanted to join Liverpool in the first place - unlike wantaway Isak.
"Being from Newcastle, I didn't really want to leave. Didn't want to go. I wanted to stay. And it was tough when I did go," Carroll told Sky Sports. "But Isak's not from Newcastle so he can act like he's acting now and think it's acceptable.
"It's a big move for him. The way he's playing his cards at the minute, the Newcastle fans are not going to back him, he's not going to help himself and it's a shame because he's such a good player and every Newcastle fan wants him to stay, the manager wants him to stay.
"It's not really the same as me because it's not his club. The Geordies took him in and made him one of their own but when he wants to go, that's his mind changed."
Liverpool's opening offer for Isak of £110million plus £10m in add-ons was turned down by Newcastle who value their star man at close to £150m. Isak refused to go on Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia, citing a thigh injury, instead training at former club Real Sociedad.
Since his return to Newcastle, the 25-year-old has been training alone and boss Eddie Howe admitted Isak would not be selected for the clash at Villa despite him wanting his striker on the field.
Howe said: "We do [have to forget about Isak] - he's not here with us. We have to focus on who is here and get the best out of them. The players are aware he's not here, the focus will be on each player playing to the best of their ability.
"I want him to play. I want him to train. I've had those conversations [with Isak] but the details of those will remain private. There is no change to the situation.
"All my focus has been on the training, Aston Villa and the transfer front in terms of getting players in - that is all-consuming for me. Alex's situation has been unchanged for a while and that will continue to be the case."
Newcastle are still seeking a viable replacement for Isak with the Mail reporting the north-east club are still exploring the possibility of a deal for Paris Saint-Germain's Goncalo Ramos. The Magpies are not under pressure to sell with Isak still under a contract for another three years.
But Newcastle fans have already made clear they do not want Isak at the club and failure to strike a deal with Liverpool before the transfer deadline on September 1 would ultimately leave Howe with a player who does not want to be there.
In what appeared an attempt to tug on Isak's heart strings, Howe said: "Me and Alex have enjoyed a great relationship. I don't think he would have done as well has he has done without that. Without his team-mates, without the supporters.
"He is a highly intelligent person and he knows he wouldn't have had the success he's had without everybody connected with Newcastle."
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