Michael Owen has spoken out about the ongoing transfer saga surrounding Alexander Isak after the Newcastle United star released a damning statement online.
With just two weeks left in the summer transfer window, there is no bigger ongoing story than the saga surrounding Newcastle striker Isak and his potential move to join Liverpool.
The striker has been strongly linked to the Premier League champions throughout the summer, with both parties seeing the move as a dream transfer.
With Newcastle looking increasingly reluctant to sell their star player, Isak decided to finally break his silence on Tuesday night, releasing a shocking statement on social media.
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And now, Liverpool and Newcastle legend Owen has had his say on the transfer saga and what could happen next while talking exclusively to SPORTbible.
During his career, Owen spent seven years playing for Liverpool, from 1997 to 2004, after progressing through the club's youth academy having joined in 1991.
The Englishman incredibly scored 158 across 297 appearances for the Reds before joining Real Madrid in August 2004, where he played for one year before returning to England to play for Newcastle United.
Speaking exclusively to SPORTbible, via 247Bet, the Ballon d'Or winner offered unique insight into Isak's ongoing situation, explaining what could be motivating the Sweden international to act so boldly.
He said: "It’s been really fascinating watching it unfold. Isak stayed very quiet and, despite everybody talking like he’s done 100 statements, that’s the first thing he’s said.
"It’s nice for the public to have everything clarified. It’s interesting that he makes out that they’ve already had talks a long time ago about him potentially leaving, he feels that they’ve gone back on their word.
"He’s given them a great service, they’ve qualified for the Champions League, won a trophy, but he wants out.
"I get it from a footballer’s point of view, you only get one short career, you want to play for the best teams, and this might be his one big chance to do so, but obviously Newcastle hold the aces, they’ve got him under contract.”
Explaining why Isak may have felt the need to release such a damning public statement, Owen added: “Sadly, if you’re going to force a move, then it’s not pretty, the actions that a player takes can’t be pretty, and that’s what we’re seeing.
"Whether he puts in a transfer request or is refusing to play, which is obviously the end of the scale, there’s not much worse you can do than that, to refuse to come in.
"He’s doing everything he can to force that dream move and I hear it, I understand it but I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I also don’t sit here and say that no other footballer would do that, of course they would.
"There’s loads of pundits out there that are up and arms about what’s happening but I can guarantee that they’d be doing the same.
"This is one short career, it’s not like he came through the ranks, it’s not like he’s a born and bred Geordie, he is basically trying to be as good a player as he can be in a short career and if that means forcing a move to probably the best team in the world then I get why he’s doing it.
However, Owen was also eager to point out that some fans and pundits criticising Isak for his behaviour are failing to consider the fact that Premier League sides often force a player out of the club against their will.
"I just look at the alternative, and nobody says a word nine times out of ten when clubs force a player out against their will, the reality is that happens all the time, the clubs do all the dirty stuff," Owen claimed.
Shortly after Isak's daring post on social media, Newcastle released their own statement echoing Owen's comments that they are the ones holding the cards in the situation.
In their official comment, the Geordie club expressed a disappointment in Isak's recent actions, but confirmed that they do not currently plan to sell him this summer, and are eager to integrate him back into the squad in the near future.
Topics: Spotlight, Alexander Isak, Michael Owen, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Transfers, Transfer News
Ben McCrum