Stan Collymore on Alexander Isak – This is excellent

Stan Collymore slams Alexander Isak’s agent amid Newcastle transfer saga

The ongoing saga surrounding Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak took yet another twist this week, as former Liverpool forward Stan Collymore weighed in on the situation with some stinging criticism.

 

The controversy intensified on Tuesday night (19 August 2025) when Isak broke his silence by releasing a strongly-worded statement on social media. In it, the Sweden international revealed his frustration at what he described as broken promises and a breakdown of trust between himself and the club.

 

Newcastle quickly issued a counter-statement of their own, flatly denying that there had ever been an agreement for the 25-year-old to leave this summer. The Magpies insisted that their star striker remains under contract and will not be sold in this transfer window.

 

Amid the growing storm, Collymore, now a pundit, took to his social media accounts to offer his verdict. The outspoken former England international made it clear where he felt the blame lay, highlighting what he called “shocking” advice from Isak’s representatives.

 

Collymore: “Isak should sack his agent”

 

According to Collymore, Isak’s camp has handled the situation poorly from start to finish. He suggested that if the forward genuinely wanted to leave, he should have formally submitted a transfer request—a move that would demonstrate his intent but also mean sacrificing a portion of loyalty bonuses written into his contract.

 

“A lot to unpack,” Collymore began. “Firstly, he’s under contract—one he willingly signed. If he believed there was a gentleman’s agreement that he could leave if a big offer came in, that should have been written into a buyout clause. Without it, the club is under no obligation to sell.”

 

The former striker went on to criticise the modern trend of players attempting to engineer moves without putting their names to a transfer request, in order to avoid financial penalties.

 

“Players today want to leave, still collect loyalty payments, and then cash in again when signing for their next club,” Collymore said. “That’s having your cake and eating it. If Isak really wants out, he should hand in the request. Yes, he loses money, but every club in the world will know he’s available and he gets his move.”

 

A poorly managed saga

 

Collymore also questioned what Isak’s agent had been doing in recent weeks, given that negotiations with Newcastle appear to have hit a dead end. He suggested that the agent should have been advising his client to either accept the financial hit of a transfer request or push for a clearer exit strategy.

 

“If I’d been given this advice, I’d sack my agent,” Collymore stated bluntly. “His contract didn’t contain a release clause, so it was naive to think Newcastle would simply wave him through the door. Any half-decent agent would have recognised that, and at the very least advised Isak on the proper route to take.”

 

Collymore even went as far as to warn that public statements like the one issued by Isak could backfire in the long run, potentially being used against him in arbitration or future disputes. “Keep quiet, work behind the scenes, and if you really want out, do it properly,” he added.

 

The fallout from Isak’s statement

 

Isak’s own message painted a picture of a player who feels badly let down. The striker, who was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season for 2024/25, said he had deliberately stayed silent while speculation swirled, but now felt compelled to speak out.

 

He accused the club of reneging on private assurances, saying:

 

> “Promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue.”

 

 

 

It was a candid and emotional statement that underlined just how fractured the relationship between player and club has become. However, without a formal transfer request, Newcastle remain firmly in control of the situation.

 

Where do Newcastle and Isak go from here?

 

For Newcastle, this is a high-stakes scenario. On one hand, they do not want to lose a striker who has been their most consistent attacking outlet since his arrival. On the other, keeping an unsettled player risks destabilising the dressing room and diminishing his market value over time.

 

For Isak, the dilemma is equally stark. If he pushes harder, he may burn bridges with the supporters and forfeit money in loyalty payments. If he stays silent, he risks being left in limbo for another season.

 

Collymore summed up the mess as a “football transfer room 101 in how not to handle a febrile situation”—with poor communication, unclear expectations, and questionable advice combining to create a standoff that benefits nobody.

 

For now, Newcastle fans will have to wait and see whether Isak remains in black-and-white stripes beyond the summer, or whether this saga takes yet another dramatic turn before the transfer window closes.