Alexander Isak’s future at Newcastle United has taken another dramatic turn after the striker broke his silence in a brutal statement, and Alan Shearer added a shock bombshell about a private meeting with the player.
Liverpool, who already had a £110 million bid rejected, remain interested in signing the Swedish forward. But the transfer could be far more complicated than expected thanks to a hidden contract clause involving his former club Real Sociedad.
The 25-year-old striker has been locked in a tense standoff with Newcastle in recent weeks. He refused to play in their Premier League opener against Aston Villa and skipped the Professional Footballers’ Association awards gala, where he was named in the Team of the Season. Instead, he has been training away from Eddie Howe’s first team.
Finally, on Tuesday night, Isak dropped a powerful Instagram statement that made his position clear.
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“I’ve kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn’t reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.
The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.”
The explosive words shook Newcastle fans, many of whom fear they are witnessing the beginning of the end for Isak on Tyneside.
But the transfer is not straightforward. When Newcastle bought Isak from Real Sociedad in 2022 for £63m, they agreed to a sell-on clause. Sociedad are entitled to 10% of any profit Newcastle make from his future sale. If Isak leaves for £150m, Sociedad would collect nearly £9m.
This means Newcastle may demand an even higher price from Liverpool to ensure they receive their full valuation, potentially pushing the deal past a British transfer record.
Newcastle responded strongly to Isak’s statement, making their position very clear:
“We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.
We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions.
We do not foresee those conditions being met. This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his team-mates.”
Yet Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has poured petrol on the fire with his own shocking revelation. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer revealed he had a private meeting with Isak earlier this year, and at that time, there was no sign of any desire to leave.
“I sat down with him five or six months ago and I didn’t see this in him, to be honest,” Shearer said. “I thought he was a manager’s dream the way he spoke about his life and the club. So obviously, something has massively upset him and we don’t know what.”
Gary Lineker, who joined Shearer on the podcast, suggested a broken promise could be behind the collapse in relations:
“These things are always behind closed doors. Maybe there was a point where they said, ‘If you have another great season, we’ll give you a big bonus or redo your contract,’ and then it didn’t happen.”
Reports from inside the club suggest Lineker may be right. Amanda Staveley, who previously co-owned Newcastle, allegedly promised Isak a lucrative new contract. But after she and her husband sold their stake in 2024, new sporting director Paul Mitchell shut down talks, arguing that with three years left on his deal, Isak didn’t need new terms.
Another theory is frustration. Isak, ambitious and eager to fight for trophies, has reportedly grown unhappy with Newcastle’s slow recruitment this summer. The Magpies missed out on several key targets, leaving him unconvinced about the club’s direction.
All of this has created one of the most explosive sagas of the transfer window. Liverpool see Isak as a potential new superstar to lead their attack, but Newcastle insist they will only sell if their full valuation is met. With the Sociedad clause involved, that price could climb even higher.
As the September 1 deadline approaches, the situation grows more volatile. Isak has drawn his line in the sand, Shearer’s meeting bombshell has added mystery to the fallout, and Liverpool must decide if they are willing to break records to get their man.
