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Alexander Isak's Newcastle future is hanging by a thread(Image: Getty Images)

It's been a rapid and bruising fall for Alexander Isak, who's gone from Newcastle's golden boy to public enemy in record time.

Here, we revisits the sequence of events that brought things to this combustible stage.

Article continues belowIsak's relationship with Newcastle has slowly deteriorated(Image: Getty Images)

The chain reaction began in March 2024, when Newcastle's then-co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi met with Isak and his team, sketching out visions of a bright, trophy-chasing future.



To Isak, this was a slap in the face.

Liverpool had been circling Gordon for months, and Newcastle's decision to secure him to a longer, improve contract was expected - but for Isak, it felt like an unmistakable snub - and an indication about where the club's priorities lay.

Isak was left furious when Newcastle didn't hand him an improved contract, like they did with Anthony Gordon(Image: Getty Images)

On the pitch, Isak eventually channelled his frustration into performances of ruthless efficiency.

Ekitike signed for Liverpool, and soon after, Isak told Newcastle he wanted to "explore his options" - a polite way of asking to join the Reds.

The striker refused to join Newcastle's pre-season tour and has since been banished(Image: Getty Images)

Losing Ekitike was painful enough, but having also missed out on Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, Newcastle now faced a summer without a clear replacement for their unsettled talisman.

The manager later admitted it was unlikely Isak would play against Aston Villa in the league opener, though he publicly insisted the situation wasn't beyond repair.

With Newcastle unwilling to lower their valuation and Liverpool unwilling to raise theirs, the saga seemed destined to stall.

Then came reports that Isak was ready to reintegrate and even commit to a new contract if a transfer fell through - only for a fresh bombshell to emerge, seemingly dashing any hope of a truce.

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Then, the decisive twist: it became clear that Isak still has no intention of returning to Newcastle and that he was "adamant" he has played his final match for Newcastle and will refuse to feature again, regardless of whether a move materialises.

From his side, the breaking point came when Newcastle backtracked on the contract promise from 2024.
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