Tempers ran high in the talkSPORT studio with Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy getting into a barney with a fan over what to do about Alexander Isak.
James the Toon fan phoned up after Isak dropped a huge bombshell statement over his future.
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Isak revealed that the trust between him and Newcastle is broken after the club rejected a £110million bid from Liverpool earlier this summer.
The Sweden superstar accused Newcastle of breaking promises that he would be allowed to leave the club, although the Magpies released their own statement insisting this was not the case.
This got James to phone up, and after making his initial points, the Toon supporter got into a heated debate with talkSPORT hosts O’Hara and Cundy.
Cundy said: “The situation isn’t going to get any better from this point, and this is inflammatory from Isak.
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“For the sake of this conversation, let’s assume what he’s said is true because I can’t see him lying. If he does feel aggrieved, and the club has let him down, there has to be a point where everyone moves on from this.
“The worst-case scenario is that the transfer window shuts and that Isak is still a Newcastle player. No one benefits from that. No one gains from that.”
James then said: “I agree Cundy. You have a couple of different options.
“If you let him go now, you are showing that the club can be leveraged. If we let him go after taking this route and going about it so incredibly poorly, then the club is just going to look bad.”
Cundy then said: “Okay, I’ll tell you what. Look really good and keep him. What does that look like?
“What does this cloud look like between now and January because you’ll keep him and the poison and toxicity around Newcastle will get worse and then you can’t wait to move him on because of how bad it is going to be.”
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James responded: “I think it is results-based. If we start losing a couple of games, it isn’t going to look good.
“But we have a very good squad. Isak isn’t the only superstar that team is made up of world-class players.”
O’Hara then passionately had his say: “Just get rid of him then. Take the fee and get rid of him. Move on.”
James responded equally passionately: “But again, give us an offer.”
O’Hara and Cundy brought up Liverpool’s only offer to date: “£110m.”
Cundy then asked the Toon fan how much he wants to which James replied: “I think £130million at least.”
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O’Hara then had his say: “You bought him for £60m. You are going to sell him for £110m. You aren’t going to get £130m for him.
“He is burying your football club. He is burying your reputation. The way he is treating you and the way he is acting. When he leaves, it will all be forgotten.”
James responded: “Our establishment will be around long after Isak.”
O’Hara added: “Of course, and it is a fantastic football club, but he is damaging the football club because he’s coming out with all these statements. He’s making Newcastle look like a mockery.”
James refuted that, responding: “That just isn’t true. Explain your comments. Why do we look like a mockery?”
Cundy added: “You haven’t dealt with this situation well.”
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O’Hara continued on his passionate speech: “He is damaging the football club. Sell him!
“Get rid of him. It’s £110m, he’s not Maradona. I think you are holding him to ransom, just let him go.”
James then said: “Lads, I’ll make a deal with you, if we keep him, he scores.”
But O’Hara was having none of it, adding: “He’s done. He isn’t going to score goals for you. He doesn’t want to be there.
“Why would you even want a player coming back into the team after he’s done that.”
What happens next?
It remains to be seen if Isak will return for Newcastle or not.
As mentioned, the player has been subject to one £110m bid from Liverpool that was swiftly rejected.
He played no part in the Toon’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa last weekend and didn’t feature in a single pre-season game either.
In his statement on Instagram, he said: “First and foremost I want to thank my teammates and everyone at Newcastle United who has supported me along the way.
“I’m not at the ceremony tonight. With everything going on, it didn’t feel right to be there.
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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.”
However, Newcastle responded with their own statement late on Tuesday, which read: “We are disappointed to have been alerted to a social media post by Alexander Isak this evening.
“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 and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired.
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“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 teammates.”
