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Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville could both be proven right this summer with Alexander Isak now eyeing up an exit from Newcastle.
Just a week on from Liverpool having an approach for the striker knocked back, Isak’s future now looks to be in considerable doubt as he looks to explore options away from St James’ Park.
Anfield may well prove to be one of them, with the Reds claimed to have retained an interest, even after signing Hugo Ekitike this week. Whatever happens, Newcastle finds itself in a considerably weaker position now that it is common knowledge that Isak wants to leave St James’ Park.
That won’t come as too big a surprise to many given the events of recent days. Eddie Howe sent the Swedish international home before Newcastle’s friendly against Celtic at the weekend, citing the recent speculation surrounding his future.
The Magpies boss insisted that Isak would travel for the club’s pre-season tour of Asia this week, although that proved not to be the case, with Newcastle insisting his absence was down to a thigh injury - although there looks to be much more behind the decision now.
Carragher and Neville won’t be too shocked by recent events, having predicted that Isak and other big names at Newcastle would look to move if given the chance.
"The reality is Newcastle are a great football club and we didn't see that any more as we did on Sunday [at the Carabao Cup final]," Neville said on the It’s Called Soccer podcast back in March.
"But they will want to play for the Real Madrids, Liverpools, Manchester Uniteds and Bayern Munichs of this world, it's just natural that these players will want to play at those clubs at some point, if they can."
Neville throwing Manchester United into the mix does seem like wishful thinking on his part, with Carragher taking something of a more realistic approach.
"I think the only two options at the moment would be Arsenal and Liverpool as they're both sort of crying out for a striker," the former Liverpool defender said, although he would go on to express doubt over a potential move for Isak this summer.
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"I just look at how long he's got left on his deal and the ball is in Newcastle's court, it's not really in Isak's. I think once you get [down] to two years [on the contract], it's almost a 50-50, no-one wants to get down to 12 months.
"Newcastle could keep him for another year and say, 'we'll see you then as we're going to get the same sort of money'. I don't think Newcastle gain anything by selling him now, unless that they had to.
"And that is why, if Newcastle get into the Champions League, there's no way Isak is leaving the club. I think the club will say: 'No, do another 12 months and in a year's time we can make a few quid and you can move on'."
With Isak now angling for a move away, Newcastle could be forced into a decision earlier than Carragher suggested, and Liverpool fans will be waiting with bated breath to see whether the Reds will be making another play for him.
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