The debate about Alexander Isak not playing for Newcastle United at the start of this season continues to abound as the summer transfer window deadline approachesMatthew Abbott and Josh Holland Sport Central Audience Writer
07:00, 28 Aug 2025
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have both weighed in on Alexander Isak(Image: PA)
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have spoken about how Alexander Isak continues to conduct himself during the summer transfer window. The Newcastle United forward has been the subject of interest from the Reds over the summer, who saw a £110m bid for the Sweden international knocked back earlier this month.
Amid speculation he could yet complete a move to Anfield ahead of the transfer deadline, Shearer and Lineker spoke about the forward’s future, responding to comments from former Arsenal favourite Thierry Henry. The Frenchman had earlier this week said the best solution may be for Isak to leave his current club.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Henry said: “You cannot put yourself in a situation when you don’t come to train. I think for me, in an ideal world, the best thing for him is – I think, for everybody – is if he can leave.
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“But I also do believe that when someone makes a mistake, if he sees it as a mistake and after (so does) his dressing room, if he apologises, then we can move on.
“If he scores goals and he starts to play the same way he played last year, then the Newcastle fans will be OK about it.
“The best for me right now, the way it is, for Liverpool and Newcastle, is if he goes.”
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Shearer and Lineker also responded to former Liverpool forward Michael Owen, who has acknowledged the player’s desperation in the face of being unable to move.
“I saw Thierry Henry and Michael Owen, both saying that clubs don’t really think about footballers in certain things, and there’s a lot of hypocrisy from certain people,” Lineker said on The Rest Is Football. “The only thing I would say is, we can all understand that the player against the club, and the club against the player, sometimes happens, but the one thing I find difficult to agree on is downing tools. That’s the one thing I would take umbrage with.”
Shearer added: “Unfortunately, you have a three-year contract in this situation. That’s your or your agent’s fault for signing such a long deal without any get-out clauses.
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“I know football’s ruthless, I know how it works, and I know when a club wants to get rid of you, as a player, they can. But that club is paying you for your services, and you’ve got three years left.
“There’s a way of doing things. Look at how [Eberechi] Eze has conducted himself at Crystal Palace, totally different; I know.
“Look at [Marc] Guehi in a very difficult situation. He’s got one year left, but Isak has three years left of a six-year deal that he or his agent signed, so that’s where it’s very different.”
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