“Isak is a pure rat” – Really?!

The sense of betrayal from Alexander Isak ‘considering his options’ is real. There is sadness and anger that a player worshipped at St James’ Park seemingly wants to jump ship just a few months after that Carabao Cup win. This is very hard to accept, particularly at a time when Newcastle are supposed to be pushing on and bridging the gap to the elite clubs. Isak’s departure would throw up uncomfortable questions about the status and ambition of the PIF project and could have damaging ramifications for other players.

Add this saga to the negativity of the summer transfer window, where Newcastle have been repeatedly rejected by transfer targets, and it is a powder keg of emotion. It creates the sort of environment in which someone has seen fit (assuming the picture is legitimate) to hang a bedsheet on a fence outside the Newcastle training ground daubed with the words “ISAK IS A PURE RAT”.

There is so much noise and conjecture around this circus that it is impossible to work out what is true and what is not, but here is a stab at determining what we do know, based on what has happened and the words of Eddie Howe:

1. Isak did not play at Celtic or travel to Asia for the pre-season tour.
2. Isak is currently using the training ground of Real Sociedad to train individually with his own staff.
3. There have been ‘discussions’ with Isak about his future.
4. Newcastle want to keep Isak, but Howe is unable to guarantee that he will not leave.
5. There has been no formal transfer bid or official approach for Isak from Liverpool or any other club.
6. Isak has not spoken about his future in public.

It is a reasonable assumption based on the above and other information that has emerged from well-connected sources, that Isak is looking at potentially leaving the club.

There is talk that he was upset when the promise of a new contract by Amanda Staveley was subsequently reneged on by Paul Mitchell. It appears probable that Isak is seeking a new challenge at a club capable of challenging for the biggest trophies; a club that can pay him his market worth in terms of his salary. At this moment in time these are things that Newcastle cannot offer. As much as we as fans might not like this, it is the reality.

There is also a sense that the grand ambitions outlined by PIF for Newcastle to be ‘number 1’ seem to have stalled with no notable progress on the stadium or training ground projects. Promises with which Isak may have been seduced when he joined the club three years ago, and the status of which supporters are also asking questions about.

Newcastle were reportedly made aware of Isak’s desire to consider his future this summer well before the transfer window opened. If this is the case, it is reasonable to ask why the situation has been allowed to develop into such a mess two-thirds of the way into the window. Newcastle have lost control of the narrative, and it has been allowed to overshadow the entire summer.

Another reality, however, is that Isak has three years remaining on his contract and, like every other player, the minimum expectation of him is that he will remain professional and fulfil the terms of his contract. He must continue training, playing and giving his best for the club even if he is unsettled. It is also fair to point out that Newcastle has been good for Isak as well as the other way around. The Magpies took a risk in signing him when others turned away, and Howe’s coaching and tactics, as well as the abilities of his teammates, have enabled Isak to develop into the elite striker he is. It hurts that currently there appears to be scant regard for this from the Swede.

If Isak does ‘down tools’ and go on some sort of strike in a bid to force a move, then he can have no complaints about his treatment from Newcastle fans. Critically, as far as we are aware, he has not done this (yet). There is every chance he has been given permission by the club to go and train in Spain for a week given most other club employees are in Asia. This is very relevant to the question of whether his current behaviour is appropriate or not, even if it is poor optics for him to be training alone.

Unfortunately, there is still a way to go with this saga. If Newcastle can’t find a suitable replacement it reduces the chances of Isak being allowed to leave. It is inconceivable that he is sold without adequate reinforcements brought in unless Newcastle are prepared to wreck their season before it has even started. If they do manage to sign two forwards that Howe is happy with, then it may end up the best outcome for all parties that Isak leaves, even though no replacement will be as good as him.

The other possible outcome, and one which looks more likely as the days go by, is that Isak stays at St James’ Park for another season at least. Because he has not yet publicly pushed to leave, refused to play or train, or handed in a transfer request, it should be possible for Howe to reintegrate him into the team and get him firing again, although his lack of pre-season and his ‘injury’ mean it will take time for him to get up to speed. Howe handled the fallout from last summer’s shambles skilfully by eventually bringing unsettled players back on board.

Currently, this is a different situation to when players like Moussa Sissoko repeatedly said that wanted to leave, or when Yohan Cabaye stopped training in a failed attempt to force a move. There is no comparison to the disdainful and contemptuous conduct Michael Owen displayed during his time at Newcastle which means he is so despised on Tyneside. When Isak has spoken previously he’s said that he is happy and hasn’t thought about his future. He has never come across as the kind of player or person to be unprofessional.

In an ideal world, if Isak does stay, the club can agree a new contract with him, even if it contains some sort of release clause. This, along with a statement of commitment from Isak, would be an effective way of drawing a line under the situation and leading to the possibility that he could stay beyond the end of this season. Wayne Rooney at Man Utd and Steven Gerrard at Liverpool are two examples where players have actually gone further than Isak and handed in transfer requests, only to end up staying and achieving legendary status at their clubs.

An incentivised contract could also give Isak a motive to get back to his top form to try and get himself a move next summer, which would be a point of his career after four years at Newcastle when most fans would be more accepting and understanding of his desire to achieve greater things (ideally at a club outside of the Premier League). Without some sort of re-commitment there is a risk that the season will be overshadowed by the noise and speculation around Isak, with every action scrutinised and everyone just waiting for him to leave in the next transfer window. Eddie Howe will want this scenario less than anybody given it will be he who has to field questions about it every few days.

We football fans are fickle. A few goals would go some way to repairing the relationship damage that has happened with Isak over the last few weeks, particularly if it is complemented by the much-needed squad reinforcements and a shifting of the overall narrative back towards Newcastle as a club on an upward trajectory.

The situation is salvageable yet, which is why it feels premature and potentially counter-productive to be pulling the bedsheets out. Calls for Isak to be banished to the reserves or ostracised until January or next summer are unrealistic from a business point of view, as well as counter-productive from a footballing perspective. While footballers would be well advised to steer clear of social media, and no doubt regard abuse as an occupational hazard, it would be naive to assume they are oblivious or unaffected by expressed opinions about them on social media (or on bed linen tied to fences).

As the ever-pragmatic Eddie Howe recently said, what ultimately matters is Newcastle United. All we can do as fans is hope that there is a positive resolution whether he stays or goes. Part of this has to be a willingness to follow the lead of his manager and colleagues in welcoming Alexander Isak back with open arms if he does stay (provided his behaviour doesn’t escalate or his conduct worsen). If there is more of a concerted effort on his part to exit, then this becomes more challenging.

We will know which way things have gone by the end of the month.

HWTL!