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Newcastle's forward, Alexander Isak, has come under fire from Roy Keane and Ian Wright, with the latter labelling the Swede's behavior as "shocking." It comes as the forward has gone on strike.
The 25-year-old Isak seems determined to depart Newcastle this summer after Premier League champions Liverpool turned down a $148 million offer earlier this month.
Although the striker hasn't officially requested a transfer, he's reportedly made it clear that he won't play for Eddie Howe's team again. On The Overlap's Rest is Football podcast, former Manchester United skipper Keane and ex-Arsenal forward Wright voiced their astonishment at the transfer drama unfolding in Tyneside. Newcastle, it's emerged would even be willing to fine Isak.
"It doesn't look good," commented Wright. "The behavior? It's kind of shocking. It's shocking behavior. I don't know what's happened with his agent, I don't know if his agent hasn't done the job properly – I don't know what it is and if Liverpool were going to get him, go and pay the £150M [asking price]."
Amanda Staveley, former Newcastle director and minority co-owner, had allegedly promised Isak that he would meet with club officials to discuss new terms before her departure.
However, she left before negotiations could begin. Paul Mitchell, the new sporting director, is believed to have reneged on that promise, leaving Isak far from happy, according to Chronicle Live.
Wright, discussing the circumstances, remarked: "You have to say, and there's a lot of talk about what was promised to him [Isak] maybe through [Amanda] Staveley, I don't know what's going on. Contract, more money, whatever it was, but then obviously she's gone now and maybe it was a gentlemen's agreement."
Isak was conspicuously missing from Newcastle's pre-season arrangements and failed to accompany the squad on their Far East tour.
The unfolding drama has cast a shadow over what ought to have been a thrilling summer at St James' Park, with Isak now conducting training sessions in solitude and separated from his teammates.
He even failed to attend a team barbecue. Keane, completely perplexed by Isak's decision to avoid training, commented, "If you're a footballer I'm always a bit wary when people say, 'You were promised something.'
"They're already on deals, and we talk about loyalty, but I just think as a footballer, you might be disappointed with the club and you might be leaving, I had it with [Nottingham] Forest (before he joined Manchester United) but you still want to train and play.
"You should think, 'The benefits of me training and playing, If I go, [means] I'll be ready' instead of going, 'I'm going to go and train with somebody else for a few weeks.'
"This would be different if Newcastle finished near the bottom and there was disarray, but they've just had a brilliant season, they're in the Champions League.
"Your job is to train and play, if you got into bed with an agent who can't do their job then you can't go to the club, 'You should have done a better job.'"
Wright then implied that Isak may have erred in penning a six-year deal with Newcastle in 2022, failing to secure a release clause. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that it could now serve the Magpies' interests to allow his departure.
He remarked: "From Newcastle's point of view they've got every right to do what they're doing – they should sell him, but sell him for the money you want for him."
Liverpool has not returned with an improved proposal following its initial approach being rejected at the start of August.
With Isak's destiny still hanging in the balance, Newcastle is pressing ahead with preparations for their clash against Aston Villa on Saturday, planning for the upcoming campaign regardless of whether their key man remains or departs.
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