Newcastle slammed by former hero for Alexander Isak to Liverpool transfer 'shambles' - 'Like a pub team'

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Alexander Isak has yet to play for Newcastle United this season as he continues to pine for a move to Liverpool (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

Chris Waddle has urged Newcastle United to let Alexander Isak complete his British record move to Liverpool before the close of the transfer window - slamming the ongoing saga as a "shambles" that has been "handled like a pub team".

And the former Magpies hero believes the money on offer from the Premier League champions means a sale is a must to reinvest wisely as the September 1 deadline looms.

Liverpool had a £110m bid rejected by their Premier League counterparts at the start of the month after Isak refused to travel to the Far East for a pre-season tour in July, citing a minor injury.



READ MORE:Liverpool told Alexander Isak transfer 'reality' with agreement 'expected'READ MORE:Liverpool now have no option in the transfer window - what Arsenal have done proves it

The Sweden international hasn't played for his current employers since May and released an explosive statement on August 19, moments after being included in the PFA's team of the season for 24/25, claiming that promises had been broken and trust had been lost over his situation at St James' Park.

Newcastle have so far been steadfast in their refusal to sell the wantaway Isak but are planning to bolster their squad with other frontline options as talks remain ongoing with Brentford and Wolves for Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen, respectively.

Waddle slammed the whole affair and called for the club he played for between 1980 and 1985 to finally sanction the departure of a player who has made it clear he wants to leave.

“If I were Newcastle, I would sell Alexander Isak this week,” the ex-England star told Esports Bets.

“I know a lot of fans are urging the club to keep him to punish him, but we’re not talking about a player that is worth a couple million pounds.

"Isak’s transfer would be a nine-figure sum – an incredible amount of money; there’s too much money involved for him to sit in the reserves.

"If he does leave and Liverpool is his destination, I’d take the £100m plus add-ons and that would be the end of the chapter.

“The whole situation has been a shambles; it’s been handled like a pub team – it’s embarrassing.

“Whether it’s Isak himself or his agent, they’ve gone about it in completely the wrong way.

“Isak is going to be very hard to replace – he picks the ball up in deeper areas and can create a goal all by himself.

No-one available on the market is as technically adept as Isak; more often than not, they require service and the ball in the box to score.

“While Jorgen Strand Larsen and Nicolas Jackson have been linked as possible replacements, neither are on Isak’s level.

“I’m sure there are some hidden gems around the world in other continents like South America or Africa that could grow to become a similar player, but I don’t know of anyone in the Premier League who would be a realistic replacement.”

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Isak was visited by a delegation from Newcastle's ownership group, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, including PIF chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, on Monday in a late attempt to change the frontman's mind.

However, the 25-year-old is said to be determined to force through his dream move to Anfield.