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Sports presenter and Arsenal fan Laura Woods has slammed Liverpool transfer target Alexander Isak for trying to force his way out of Newcastle United this summer.
So far, Isak and Newcastle have been in a stand-off with the player wanting to leave and the club determined not to let him do so. Liverpool saw one bid turned down for the 25-year-old but has not yet returned with an improved offer as it waits for the door to open.
Newcastle is trying to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves and has also targeted the Brentford striker Yoane Wissa. If it could do a deal for both players, that might see its Isak stance soften.
However, Woods has been unimpressed with how Isak has acted. The player has sat out the opening two Premier League fixtures of the season against Aston Villa and Liverpool and isn't expected to face Leeds United at the weekend.
The Swede — who has been named in his country's squad for upcoming games against Slovenia and Kosovo — has been training alone and hasn't been involved for Newcastle since the end of last season.
"Based on what we saw from Newcastle on Monday night and the fight they showed with 10 men, I find a player (Isak) who has basically removed themselves from the situation pretty low," Woods told BetMGM.
"If he were an Arsenal player, I wouldn’t want to keep him around and I’d be absolutely buzzing to see the back of him. He’s a world-class player but attitude says so much more than ability.
"In all honesty, I’m pretty bored of the whole situation. If he goes to Liverpool then great, but if we don’t see him in the Premier League again, I’m not that bothered either.
"I think he’s really tarnishing his reputation not just for the Newcastle supporters but for other fanbases too. If Arsenal were linked with him, I’d be pretty unconvinced about him joining now. I feel he’s tarnished his reputation that much.
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"You just look at Anthony Gordon and the energy and work rate he put in against Liverpool. OK, he got sent off for a silly challenge, but that effort is what Newcastle need and their supporters crave."
Isak has scored 54 goals in 86 Premier League appearances for Newcastle. In a statement released on social media last midweek, he accused the Magpies of breaking promises that were made to him.
Newcastle denied that in response and has so far been unwilling to relent on letting Isak depart.
Liverpool.com says: Isak has tried his best to force his way out but that shouldn't be a concern if he is successful. In Liverpool, he would be joining one of the best clubs in the world — a destination rather than another stepping stone.
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