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Alan Shearer is shocked that Alexander Isak failed to demand a release clause during his Newcastle contract negotiations.

The striker's relationship with the Magpies has reached crisis point as he desperately pushes for a sensational switch to Liverpool.

Newcastle responded immediately with their own statement, refuting any such guarantees to the player and emphasizing their expectation that Isak will remain and rejoin the squad - despite claims he has sworn never to represent the Magpies again.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Newcastle legend Shearer suggested that if Isak - who joined the club from Real Sociedad in 2022 - harboured exit ambitions, he should never have committed to a six-year deal without securing a formal escape route.

"It's a sad situation," the 55-year-old said.

Alan Shearer says he can't believe Alexander Isak didn't insist on an exit clause when he joined Newcastle.

The 25-year-old was reportedly given assurances of fresh terms that would have positioned him amongst the Premier League's highest-paid players, but a shift in leadership at St James' Park, and worries over PSR adherence, are thought to have derailed the arrangement.

It's claimed that Isak made his intentions to leave clear shortly after the contract breakdown, although many at Newcastle dispute this.

That seemed to conclude the saga, until days later when Isak reignited the situation by requesting Newcastle to "explore his options."

He was subsequently excluded from Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia and sat out the team's Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Saturday

Meanwhile, Isak is insistent that his time in Tyneside is over, but with three years remaining on his St James' Park contract, his employers hold a significant amount of leverage.

For now, the situation remains uncertain
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