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Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, who once handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Manchester City, has slammed Alexander Isak's actions this summer, with the Swede still hoping to join Liverpool.
Up to this point in the window, Newcastle has insisted that Isak won't be going anywhere. There have been some suggestions that the Magpies will only let him leave if a bid worth $200 million (£150 million) is submitted, and the 25-year-old took to social media earlier this week to make his intentions clear.
Isak said Newcastle had "broken promises" while the North East side insisted none had been made to him. The rest of Eddie Howe's team has been preparing for Monday's game against Liverpool this week, with Isak still separate from the group.
"If I'm a Newcastle player, I don't want Isak back," Rooney said on his new BBC podcast. "I think if players leave football clubs — and that happens all the time — there's a way to go about it.
"You can't go on strike, can't not turn up for training and train with your teammates. If you want to leave the club or not, you have to be there for your teammates and be ready if needed.
"For me, I don't think there's any way back for Isak at Newcastle. I think there are cases where it can happen, but from me as a person, I don't think I could accept them back.
"In terms of Isak's teammates, I wouldn't want him back. You can ask to leave a football club — that happens, or the club tells you you're leaving — but you have to be professional.
"You've got friends in there who you play with, you have fans who are paying a lot of money to support, and you can't just walk out on it. And if they're going to do it once, they'll do it again."
For Newcastle to let Isak leave, it would not only have to receive a higher bid than Liverpool's opening $148 million (£110 million) offer, but it would also need to bring in at least one striker as a replacement.
Brentford forward Yoane Wissa is one target, though several others have rejected the chance to move to St James' Park. And this week, Wissa was spotted taking some social media action of his own.
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"For Wissa to just unfollow the club and take all his pictures down of a club who've helped you progress as a player... I think these players are like kids now, or they're very badly advised in what they're doing because I know agents have influence," Rooney added.
"A lot of people have their father or brother as an agent now. Sometimes, the right thing or the right decision is not always the one from the player's point of view. So it's very disappointing to see his behaviour over the past few days."
Liverpool.com says: Isak essentially going on strike has not been a good look, but the player feels that Newcastle promised him something heading into the summer.
It should all have been sorted out at the start rather than the end of the window, avoiding all of the drama and giving Newcastle proper time to source a replacement.
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