Black-and-white shirts resemble barcodes to Liverpool.
Tyneside to Merseyside is a well-worn path...
Back in 1998 when Kenny Dalglish was managing Newcastle United assisted by Terry McDermott, I made a book-related visit to Dalglish’s temporary abode in Gateshead. It was an extraordinary house belonging to Sir John Hall’s family, a collection of styles, apparently left over from the building of the Metrocentre, a Hall development.
Dalglish being at home, and relaxed, it was a house full of chatter. Inevitably, much of it flowed between Dalglish and McDermott, two Liverpool legends, the old dressing-room bond unbreakable, sharing old stories. The talk was also of the standards they wanted at Newcastle. Listening to the pair was a reminder of the power of Liverpool in players’ minds. It’s a lure, financial and sporting, clearly currently playing on Alexander Isak’s mind.
McDermott, of course, was the first of the stars to make the journey from St James’ Park to Anfield 51 years ago. Depending on how Newcastle’s Saudi owners react, Isak will be the eighth. Those black-and-white shirts resemble bar-codes to Liverpool. Scan and deliver. It’s a well-worn path which will revive fears amongst Newcastle fans of being a “stepping-stone” club, especially in an era when they are coming to terms with the demands of PSR.
Newcastle need to continue developing their revenue to afford the stellar wages to keep stars happy – or find more gems in recruitment. Maybe they can come up with a new, improved contract that will keep the 25-year-old for now. Maybe some compromise will be reached whereby Isak stays until the World Cup. Maybe Eddie Howe can persuade the Swede.
But Isak must surely look at Liverpool’s line-up, the club’s ambition and how expertly-run they are. By contrast, Newcastle have lost two sporting directors. Recruitment this summer, Anthony Elanga apart, has been woeful. Offering Brentford only £25m for Yoanne Wissa just looks cheap.
The frustration for Newcastle fans is that Isak scored the winner in the Carabao Cup final – against Liverpool – and the momentum building under the excellent Howe should have accelerated. The Geordie juggernaut has stalled, and Isak is now “exploring other options” according to the well-connected Craig Hope in the Daily Mail. Isak, if he leaves, would be the third to move from Newcastle to Liverpool for a British record fee.