Alexander Isak was prepared to reject some huge clubs in order to get what he wanted when leaving Newcastle United for Liverpool.
Isak’s goodbye to Newcastle United has not really helped matters, with the Sweden international tarnishing his legacy at the club before leaving.
Newcastle have sold Isak to Liverpool for a British record fee but even that does not feel like a victory.
His self-imposed exile from the first-team before eventually leaving arguably cost Newcastle at least three Premier League points and it’s difficult to spin his messy departure as anything like a positive.
The 25-year-old always wanted to join Liverpool. His desire was so strong that he was prepared to undo all of the good work he did on Tyneside during a three-year stint at the club.
Indeed, Isak was also ready to reject some huge clubs along the way.
Photo by Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesChelsea made a move for Alexander Isak Â
According to The Daily Mail, Chelsea are understood to have enquired about Isak’s availability earlier this summer.
Chelsea were interested in Isak in 2024 too and the idea of him moving to Stamford Bridge would no doubt have been equally as painful for Toon supporters.
The Blues signed Joao Pedro and Liam Delap ahead of Newcastle during the summer window and seeing Isak potentially go there too would have been another bitter blow.
Still, the report adds that Isak only ever wanted Liverpool.
Alexander Isak also turned down Manchester United
Given his burning desire to move to Anfield, it’s perhaps not surprising that he rejected all other overtures too.
Isak was offered a huge salary to move to Saudi Arabia but was not interested.
It was also claimed back in July by Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg that Isak had turned down interest from Manchester United too.
Understand Alexander #Isak has once again made it clear that he only wants to join Liverpool FC.
Even Manchester United made an enquiry in recent days, but Isak turned it down. He only wants #LFC.
The player’s camp remain optimistic that an agreement can be reached this… pic.twitter.com/whbgUOneRK
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 1, 2025
View Tweet
Clearly, player power won out here. Newcastle were denied a bidding war for Isak and eventually caved. Yoane Wissa’s conduct before leaving Brentford for Newcastle cannot be ignored here, either.
Newcastle sold Isak for an awful lot of money but to pretend the deal was done on their terms feels somewhat foolish.