‘Head turned’ - Newcastle United legend sends warning over £150m superstar
Chris Waddle has told Newcastle United they cannot keep Alexander Isak if his head gets turned.
An insane season has resulted in the Swede netting 23 times across all competitions. That is two less than last season despite 10 Premier League games remaining.
Isak has also achieved legendary status by helping the Magpies end their 70-year drought without domestic silverware. His first-time finish put Newcastle 2-0 up in the Carabao Cup final - giving Liverpool an uphill task.
A stunning goal and clever assist for Sweden against Northern Ireland added two more moments to Isak’s ever-growing highlight reel. Three years left on his contract places Newcastle in a favourable position but that has not stopped speculation from circulating all season.
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The Telegraph reported in December that Toon chiefs have slapped a £150million price tag around Isak’s neck. His heroics since may have increased that valuation further, with Barcelona, Liverpool and Arsenal reportedly interested.
Speaking to NewcastleWorld via 10bet, former Magpies ace Waddle warned Eddie Howe about Isak’s head turning this summer. He said: “Arsenal want Isak. Liverpool are reportedly looking at him. Paris Saint-Germain would probably love to take him. Some players leave football clubs simply for a change of scenery.
“You want to go to London or Paris, for example. I can understand why people are drawn to those places, but you've got to play. You don’t want to join a club, sit on the bench and make 10 appearances. At the end of the day, your description as a job is footballer, not a benchwarmer.
“Not that Isak would have that problem, but we’ve seen plenty of players move on to supposedly bigger and better things over the years and not play. If he wants to go, he's got to put his hand up and say ‘I want to move on’. Newcastle will be sad to lose him. He's a very good centre-forward. He scores his own goals. A lot of goals he scores, he makes them himself. And there are not many of these players around.
“I can see why Arsenal and Liverpool are looking at the lad and thinking he would do a great job for us. I can also see how he could have his head turned. He's come from Real Sociedad to Newcastle. He's done well.”
Waddle did, however, acknowledge that Arsenal and Newcastle are on a similar trajectory. He “hopes” that the 25-year-old will stay at St James’ Park for another year.
“Arsenal are a better team than Newcastle at the minute but Newcastle knocked them out of the cup,” Waddle added. “I think if he went it would be purely because of the Champions League, but then there’s every chance Newcastle can qualify. There’s not a great deal of difference between the two clubs. If it's financial, I'm sure Newcastle could offer him a massive deal.
“I hope he stays at Newcastle for at least another year. The fans like him. The club obviously like him, but we don't know what goes through his mind. We don't know his family life. Fingers crossed he stays at Newcastle for a long time, but at least another year.
“Newcastle definitely don't want to lose him. They’re always saying there's a new deal but, if the lad has his head turned and thinks I want to go to London or I want to go to Paris, there's not a lot you can do.”