Liverpool legend slams Newcastle’s ‘ludicrous’ Isak valuation

Liverpool’s all-time record goalscorer has branded Newcastle United’s £150m valuation of Alexander Isak “ludicrous”.

The Anfield club’s pursuit of the Sweden international has been the defining story of the summer transfer window, with Newcastle rejecting a bid of £110m for the striker earlier this month.

Isak has effectively downed tools since, training alone and refusing to make himself available for the club’s Premier League opener away to Aston Villa in an effort to force a move.

Rangers legend Ally McCoist has accused the forward of “throwing his toys out of the pram” while Newcastle icon Alan Shearer has labelled Liverpool’s failed bid “rather belittling when you have midfielders going for £105m”.

The absence of Isak’s lethal marksmanship at Villa Park was nonetheless keenly felt by Eddie Howe’s side, whose committed performance was undermined by a lack of cutting edge, with just three of the visitors’ 16 shots on target.

Isak has been central to Newcastle’s recent success, scoring 56 goals in 84 appearances for the club including last season’s winner against Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley as the Magpies won a domestic trophy for the first time in 70 years. 

But Anfield legend Ian Rush, who scored 346 goals for the Merseyside club over two trophy-laden spells between 1980 and 1986, believes the fee Newcastle are demanding for Isak is unrealistic.

What did Ian Rush say about Newcastle’s £150m valuation of Alexander Isak?

“The prospect of a £150m bid is ludicrous,” Rush wrote in a column for the Liverpool Echo. “This is not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. 

“Isak is a top striker but that sort of fee for a player who clearly wants to leave, and has even gone on strike to get it over the line, I find incredible.

“It’s a situation that has not been handled well up at Newcastle, but even their Saudi Arabian owners must realise it might be for the best to move him on and reinvest that money.”

Liverpool continue their title defence at St James’ Park on Monday night. 

Rush, who briefly plied his trade for Newcastle during the tenure of former team-mate Kenny Dalglish, says the onus will be on Arne Slot’s men to “stand up and be counted” at a ground where they were held to a 3-3 draw last season.

“[It] will be another difficult assignment and Liverpool can’t fold under the pressure,” said Rush, who acknowledged the “potential for fireworks”. 

“It’s obvious what the news agenda is going to be in the build up to it given the wantaway Isak and his willingness to agitate for the move to Anfield.”