Alan Shearer doesn’t hold back on Alexander Isak saga and Newcastle ‘disaster’

Newcastle United have endured a frustrating pre-season on and off the pitch, and with Alexander Isak’s future still up in the air, Magpies icon Alan Shearer has had his say on the latest

Alan Shearer has called for Newcastle United to swiftly resolve the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak, following a “disaster” pre-season. Liverpool and Isak have been given a stern ultimatum by Newcastle – without a higher bid for the forward, there will be no switch to Anfield.

The Magpies have turned down a £110m offer from Liverpool, who are holding back on submitting a second proposal while they monitor the situation with Isak and the club. Currently, the striker is training away from his team-mates at Darsley Park.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has already indicated Isak will most likely not be involved for their Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime. After a troubling pre-season, Shearer implored the club to decide on Isak’s future immediately so they can move forward.

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On the Rest is Football podcast, the Newcastle icon said: “Disaster pre-season. Absolute disaster. Where do I start? One win. All of the talk has been about Isak.

“It has been a disaster for them, it really has. After what should have been, I thought, a time for Newcastle to kick on, after winning a trophy, after getting into the Champions League.

“I thought it was the time to go out and bring in three or four big players and I thought that was going to happen. I’ve said about the chief executive and sporting director, I think it’s nonsense they have not had those in, whether that has hampered them or not, I guess it has.

“They need to sort the situation out as quickly as possible with Isak. I guess he stays, until they get someone in and Eddie can maybe talk him around – if that isn’t possible then (they need to sell him).

“They’ve just got to get some players in. They needed a forward anyway, so now they need two centre-forwards.”

Newcastle are understood to be holding out for a larger bid for Liverpool. Initially, £150m was seemingly the sum which would convince the Magpies to part with the ex-Real Sociedad forward. But the Chronicle now say a bid of £130m – which would be a Premier League record – plus add-ons may be enough to force a sale.

After netting 27 goals last season, Isak kicked off the pre-season campaign by featuring in Newcastle’s third kit launch alongside club legend Tino Asprilla at the Tyneside Irish Centre. However, images of the striker have since been removed from the club shop.

This summer, Anthony Elanga joined from Nottingham Forest for £55m, whilst AC Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw is close to sealing a £35m switch from the Italian giants.

Newcastle’s pre-season kicked off with 1-0 defeats to Arsenal and Everton. A 4-0 triumph over Carlisle was then swiftly followed by a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Celtic. The Magpies have since suffered losses to Arsenal again, a K-League XI and Atletico Madrid, though they did manage draws with Tottenham Hotspur and Espanyol.

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