Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak is stuck in one of the most dramatic transfer sagas of the summer. The Swedish star, once seen as a hero at St James’ Park, now faces angry chants from his own supporters after refusing to return to the first-team squad.
After Newcastle’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, fans made their feelings clear with furious shouts aimed at the forward: “There’s only one greedy ****!”
Isak, who wants out of the club, is pushing for a move to Liverpool, but Newcastle have already rejected one bid. Whether Liverpool will return with a bigger offer before the September 1 transfer deadline is still unknown.
Meanwhile, Eddie Howe has broken his silence, giving a four-word message that kept hope alive: “The door is open.”
📰 Also Read This:
Speaking after the Villa match, Howe made it clear the choice rests with the striker: “Nothing’s changed. The door is well and truly open but he has to decide what he wants to do. We would like a resolution. The ownership, everyone, the players we have, want that clarity. You don’t need any distraction. I’m not in control of that. There’s only one person in control of that.”
When asked if that person was Isak, Howe replied directly: “Alex is in control of what he does. I’m not in control of him.”
Despite still earning £140,000 per week, Isak has been refusing to train with his teammates. Instead, he is working alone at the training ground and has even moved out of his Newcastle home.
This act of separation has left many supporters feeling betrayed. Only a year ago, Isak was viewed as a symbol of Newcastle’s bright future. Now, fans see him as walking away at the worst possible time.
While the Isak drama unfolds, Newcastle are scrambling to strengthen their squad. They are close to signing Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa for £40 million, a deal designed to help Villa stay within spending limits while giving Newcastle a young midfield talent.
Howe admitted the market has been “challenging”: “We’re actively looking in the market. We’re working hard to bring players in, more out of hope than expectation.”
The draw against Aston Villa showed frustration not only with players but also with football’s governing system. Both sets of fans turned their chants toward the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR): “Premier League, corrupt as f*! F* PSR!”**
Supporters from both clubs believe the rules are unfair, blocking their teams from spending to compete with Europe’s elite.
Aston Villa’s transfer struggles mirror Newcastle’s. Manager Unai Emery admitted his side are not contenders for the top seven, even though Villa are preparing for a third straight European campaign.
UEFA have already fined Villa £9.5m for breaching squad cost rules, forcing them to sell talent like Jacob Ramsey just to balance the books.
For Newcastle, the Isak situation is only one piece of a larger puzzle. Despite Saudi ownership, fans are beginning to question whether the club has the right structure to compete with the Premier League giants.
Transfer targets such as Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo have slipped away, leaving Howe with a thin squad heading into a season that also includes Champions League commitments.
Without a stable recruitment strategy, the club risks falling short of its ambitions.
On the pitch, Newcastle looked more threatening than Villa in the first half. Anthony Gordon and Elanga both had chances but failed to find the net. Villa fought back in the second half but saw their momentum halted when Ezri Konsa was sent off for pulling down Gordon.
In the end, a goalless draw reflected the uncertainty both clubs face off the pitch.
Alexander Isak’s standoff has become a symbol of Newcastle’s rocky summer. Fans feel betrayed, Eddie Howe feels stuck, and the striker continues to isolate himself as Liverpool circle in the background.
