Jamie Carragher gives his thoughts on Alexander Isak’s potential transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool
Jamie Carragher discussed Alexander Isak ahead of Newcastle United vs Liverpool(Image: Sky Sports Premier League)
Jamie Carragher believes the saga involving Alexander Isak has cast a shadow over Newcastle United and compared it to Fernando Torres’ turbulent final months at Liverpool. Isak sent shockwaves through the world of football last week when he released a statement in which he said his relationship with the North East club is now over.
The forward’s decision to go public, accusing Newcastle of breaking promises and saying he ‘can’t continue’ and ‘change is in the best interests of everyone’, has intensified speculation about the striker’s future. Liverpool have already seen a £110m bid rejected for the Sweden international this month.
And reacting to the saga on Monday Night Football, Carragher said: “I’m not sure, I still think it’s a toss of a coin. I don’t think a deal was ever gonna get done before this game – I couldn’t see that.
READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister out of Newcastle vs Liverpool as Arne Slot makes injury decisionREAD MORE: Alexander Isak Liverpool transfer latest as Newcastle United handed double striker update
“For me, I can’t believe that Liverpool it is just Isak of no one, but it does feel like that the closer we are to the end of the window.”
Alongside the former Reds defender was ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, who said: “It’s a different need for a team that maybe plays at the bottom or in the middle of the table.
“It’s because if you’re playing in all competitions you need to have two very good strikers. One that’s coming up, which is Hugo Ekitike. If you manage to get Isak you’d get one of the best strikers in your league.
“I do think it is a need if you want to perform in all competitions.”
However, Carragher disagreed by responding: “I’ve never been of that opinion. I’m one of the few Liverpool fans who have probably not been all-in on ‘it has to be Isak’, spend this money. I’ve explained my reasons.
“I don’t think he’s as durable as maybe a Mo Salah. Actually, in the last three seasons he’s missed 36 league games – that’s almost a season out of three seasons he’s been at Newcastle.”
Finally, Carragher told Newcastle chiefs: “This is not because I’m thinking I want Isak at Liverpool, I think Newcastle should sell Isak.
“The reason I say that is because there’ll be so many people outside of Newcastle telling Eddie Howe and Newcastle what they have to do.
“‘You’ve got to be strong, you’ve got to show Liverpool or any other club, you’ve got to show in future players can’t just come in and demand to go’. But, they don’t have the problem of Isak every day.
“They don’t have the problem Eddie Howe has every press conference going in there and getting asked questions about it. It’s a cloud over the club constantly.
“The reason I say this is because I’ve got experience of it. We had this with Fernando Torres at Liverpool where he didn’t really want to be at the club, he ended up staying [in summer 2010] and we sold him in the January [of 2011]. That four or five months was a nightmare for the club. Everybody at the club couldn’t wait for him to move on.
“It’s similar to Newcastle, Newcastle as a club are here – delighted to be in the Champions League. Isak is a player who wants to win the Champions League. They’re not there now and he’s 25, 26.
“The point I’m making again is when we were going for the Champions League at Liverpool we had some world class players, as soon as our level dropped people like Torres – world class player, [Javier] Mascherano – world class player, [Xabi] Alonso – world class player, wanted to leave because there is too much of a gap to where they are as players and where the club are.
“It’s not me having a go at Newcastle and wanting their player to come to Newcastle, I’ve got experience of that situation. When you’ve got a player who doesn’t want to be there it can be an absolute nightmare.”