Alexander Isak finally breaks silence on Liverpool transfer saga: "Promises have been broken"

Alexander Isak has spoken for the first time regarding his bitter transfer row with Newcastle and insisted that his relationship with the club is OVER. The Swede is determined to force through a move to Premier League champions Liverpool this summer and is adamant he has played his final game for the club.

On Tuesday he was absent from the PFA Awards, where he was included in the Team of the Year. And speaking shortly after his inclusion he delivered a blunt statement surrounding the furious impasse.

“I'm proud to be recognised by my fellow professionals with a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season for 2024/25,” Isak wrote in a statement posted to social media. "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. 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.”

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Isak has been training away from Newcastle's first team after he missed their pre-season tour of Asia, with Liverpool seeing an initial bid of £110million rejected. The striker did not play in Newcastle's Premier League opener, a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, and the Magpies have been struggling to find a potential replacement.

Newcastle missed out on Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, who joined Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United respectively, and winger Anthony Gordon started up front against Villa after Callum Wilson was allowed to leave on a free transfer.

"It seems like the striker market gets tighter every year," manager Eddie Howe admitted when asked about Newcastle's struggles in the transfer market. "Maybe that's because we have continued to grow as a team.

"There's not many players of that calibre to make us better and when they're potentially available the price seems to go up, and then you are dealt other challenges like PSR [profit and sustainability regulations], how much you spend in the window, the long-term effects if you do the transfer.

"It is not as clear as going out and getting any player. They have got to fit the team, make us better and be affordable. That's not a large group of players."

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