9 hours ago
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Joleon Lescott has urged supporters to "not just believe" that Alexander Isak has withdrawn himself from Newcastle training to force through a move to Liverpool.
Following his declaration in July that he wished to explore new opportunities, Isak has become caught up in an increasingly acrimonious dispute. The 25-year-old is determined to leave before the transfer window closes on Monday and has informed Newcastle he will not represent them again.
Talks with the Reds have reached an impasse since their $147 million offer was rejected this month. Isak expressed his frustrations on the evening of the Professional Footballers' Association awards ceremony, stating "promises have been broken."
Since the controversy erupted, he has been training separately from Eddie Howe's first team, but former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender Lescott has advised supporters to view Isak's training ground separation with scepticism.
Boss Howe has made it evident that Isak cannot participate in his first-team sessions due to the dispute, though he and the club have emphasised that the Swede will be "welcomed back" when he is prepared, reports the Mirror.
This prompts questions about Isak and whether he has similarly declined to train with his Newcastle teammates, just as he has stated he doesn't wish to play alongside them.
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In a chat with Carlton Cole and Olivia Buzaglo on All Out Football's In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, Lescott revealed: "I don't know that that has happened [Isak refusing to train]. It's been documented, but I also know I've been at clubs where teams have told players they cannot train.
"So don't just believe that Isak has said he doesn't want to train, and that is it. If he weren't good enough and they didn't want him, they'd be saying: 'Don't come in.'
"I was told at Villa, I couldn't train with the first team for no reason at all. I would just try and go train with the reserves. I would have stayed at Villa, but because they said that to me, I was like, 'I can't come in and train with the reserves. I need to play'"
It's reported that discussions have taken place between Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Isak, with the club trying to negotiate a deal that would see the forward return to the squad content.
Earlier this month, Isak rejected a new contract offer from the Magpies, and Lescott has stated that if Newcastle wishes to retain their star striker, they must compensate him in line with the rumoured £150m valuation they've placed on him.
"It's business, and from a business perspective, if with Isak, you want a certain amount of money, you haven't got it... If you value him at a certain amount, you have to pay him the amount you value," Lescott continued. "You can't say you want a certain sum of money and then keep him on the money he is on. You can't have it both ways."
Should Isak be unable to secure an agreement with Newcastle and fail to complete a switch to Liverpool, he might find himself in an uncertain position. Nevertheless, Lescott believes the 25-year-old won't suffer from a brief hiatus, having predictably not appeared for Newcastle this campaign.
"It's not going to do him any harm physically," Lescott replied when questioned about Isak's absence from action. "Sharpness, maybe. But the love of the game will come back, and regardless of who it is for, in six weeks, he's going to want to play."
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