#alexander-isak

#alexander-isak

The issue of Alexander Isak's future was never far away from the headlines this summer, with the transfer saga between Newcastle United and Liverpool running right until the final minutes of the transfer window. The Reds eventually got their man, sealing a 125million move for the Swedish striker, but not until he had effectively gone on strike at St James' Park, training alone at his former club Real Sociedad, before accusing the club of breaking a promise that he could leave the club.

They could have got Alexander Isak this summer for 120m, and they got Benjamin Sesko instead. Sir Alex Ferguson would have always gone out and broken the bank to get that leader, to get that top player, so that everybody looks at him as soon as he pulls that shirt on and goes, wow, what a player. I want to play like him. I want to be like him.

UEFA Champions League openers don't come much bigger than mega club Liverpool pitted against Spain's powerhouse outfit, Atletico Madrid. The reigning English Premier League champions, who have started their new domestic campaign with a perfect 4-0 record, will be looking to avenge their disappointing round-of-16 exit from last season's Champions League, where they lost a heartbreaking penalty shootout to eventual title-winners PSG.

The Swedish manager [Jon Dahl Tomasson] deserves a big, big compliment because he gets maybe the best striker in the world, and he needs to play two very important games for his country but understands that if he would play him twice for 90 minutes, then the player would be injured for multiple weeks and that is not always easy for a manager that he takes care of the interest of a player,

Pedro impressed at Brighton and has shone at the start of his Chelsea career so far, playing a key role for Enzo Maresca's side as they won the Club World Cup in the summer. Numerous outlets have the Brazilian's transfer fee at just 60m, and though he's not as good as Isak, it's also surely a bit crazy to argue that the Sweden international is worth more than double.

I think the key for Gameweek 4 is to stick with the Liverpool assets you have, do not buy or sell this week until the starters become clear. There's the appealing fixture of Burnley away, but there's no guarantee Isak starts in that game. He has had a disrupted August where he hasn't trained consistently or played any competitive minutes. He only played 18 minutes across two fixtures for Sweden over the international break and so it would be a surprise to be on the team sheet this weekend.

Clichy admits it now looks like an adjustment for Arsenal to play with a poacher like Gyokeres leading the line, and it seems he thinks Isak would have been seen as the more ideal fit. The Sweden international showed world class ability at Newcastle, showing that he can do it at Premier League level week in, week out. Isak will surely be a superb signing for Liverpool, but it perhaps seems unrealistic for Arsenal to have paid the kind of money he ended up costing.

Newcastle United suffered a turbulent transfer window, but there were some winners among the chaos. It centred around Alexander Isak, who effectively went on strike to force through a move to Liverpool, a saga which rumbled on right until the end of the window. The Magpies were adamant they would not sell without a suitable replacement coming in, and when that came to fruition, they allowed Isak to leave for 125m.

Alexander Isak's first appearance of the season was overshadowed by Sweden's shock 2-0 defeat to Kosovo, who finished with 10 men, in World Cup qualifying on Monday. Isak, who completed a British-record £125m transfer to Liverpool on deadline day, was an unused substitute in his nation's 2-2 draw with Slovenia on Friday. The former Newcastle United striker took to the pitch for the first time since May following his transfer stand-off with the Magpies, coming on late in the second half.

Sweden travel to Kosovo in their second match of the UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Isak did not feature in Sweden's opening Group A game against Slovenia after his 125 million move to Liverpool on transfer deadline day. The saga meant he did not train with his previous club Newcastle all summer and he is lacking match fitness. Ex-teammate Anthony Elanga scored, while Viktor Gyokeres played the full 90 minutes as they drew 2-2 in Slovenia.

Still, it seems Ginola also had the chance to go to Barcelona at one point, and he still clearly feels bitter about not being allowed to go. It was no disrespect to Newcastle, but a career is so short. When it didn't happen again, I had to go back. And then when Keegan left us that January, he left me, too. I felt stabbed in the back, Ginola said of nearly getting a move to Barca.