Alexander Isak's 'change of stance' accusation enrages Alan Shearer – 'Doesn't take a genius'

Alan Shearer has hit back at claims he harbours a different stance on AlexanderIsak's desire to leave Newcastle than he did on Trent Alexander-Arnold's departurefrom Liverpool. The Magpies legend has claimed it "doesn't take a genius" to see why he views the two events differently.

Liverpoollaunched a £120million bid, including add-ons, for Isak at the start of August, which was swiftly rejected. Isak, 25, then informed Newcastle officials that hewished to explore opportunitiesaway from the north east.

Isak did not participate in Newcastle's pre-season and has continued to train away from the first team. He was also left out of the club's opening day Premier League fixture against Aston Villa.

READ MORE: What Liverpool did after 'making £100m bid' for Alexander Isak's Newcastle team-mate

READ MORE: Alexander Isak will be 'welcomed back to Newcastle with open arms' despite bombshell statement

Shearer has made his feelings on the Isak situation well known, with both Isak and the club releasing bombshell statements on the matter this week. The Newcastle legend has been an ardent critic of Isak and his agent's conduct surrounding the saga, but took a slightly softer view of Alexander-Arnold's exit from Anfield.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer fielded a question from a listener who asked him: "Why has Alan's stance on Isak transfer saga different from when Trent Alexander-Arnold decided to leave Liverpool to join Real Madrid (Especially since he isn't a Geordie, Newcastle will get in excess of £100m for him)?"

Shearer hit back, addressing how Alexander-Arnold never downed tools for his club. "What a stupid question that is," Shearer said. "You can't compare them at all. Trent was a kid who was brought up in Liverpool, he came to the end of his contract, he didn't refuse to play, he didn't refuse to train and was then well within his rights to leave. Isak's got three years left on his contract, it doesn't take a genius to work that out does it? Come on."

Speaking to Betfair recently, Shearer claimed Isak may have to leave Newcastle with the situation becoming untenable. Yet he stopped short of saying he should receive a heartfelt goodbye from fans, while previously he had claimed that "Alex is not going about it the right way at all."

Shearer said: "My view is the same as it was three or four weeks ago. If Newcastle can get players in to replace him, and if Newcastle receive a bid they want to accept, then it may happen. If that doesn’t happen, then he stays, and it becomes really messy. If Liverpool want him, then they put in an offer Newcastle will accept.

“They’ve been trying to do that for the past four or five weeks and haven’t been able to. Whether they can do that in the next 10 days is doubtful, but there’s still time. I think we’re just sat here guessing, but last night’s statement hasn’t done him any favours whatsoever in terms of trying to get Newcastle onside or forcing them into a decision, I think they’ll just go the opposite way.”

Alexander-Arnold joined Los Blancos this summer with a month remaining on his contract. The Spanish giants paid £10m to release the two-time Premier League winner early. Speaking in late March about Alexander-Arnold's pending departure, Shearer claimed the ex-Liverpool star should be given a fond farewellfrom fans.

This came amid angry comments online from some Liverpool supporters after Alexander-Arnold had revealed he was to leave. The decision led to sections of the Anfield crowd also booing him in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

“I just look at some of the comments, and a lot of the time I don’t because it irritates me," Shearer said of Alexander-Arnold's situation. "But when I looked at some of the comments on Tuesday when the news broke, I know it’s his club but he’s been brilliant for Liverpool, played a huge part in everything they’ve done in the last few years and he’s won every single trophy with them.

“He should be given a great send-off from the Liverpool fans if it happens. There’s hasn’t been a single occasion where you can question his attitude, he’s always given his all and he’s tried to do it in the correct way. He hasn’t got involved in all the talk.

“I just think, if he is going to leave, he should leave with everyone applauding him for what he’s done for that brilliant football club. Trent is leaving a huge powerhouse of a football club and joining another one in Real Madrid."

Previously, Shearer's comments on Isak did slightly echo his stance on Alexander-Arnold, but again, he neglected to call for the type of send-off he insisted that Liverpool fans should reserve for Alexander-Arnold.

Back in July, he told Betfair: "You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150m, and if he [Isak] really, really wants to go, you can't step in his way.

"Isak has been brilliant for Newcastle, helped us achieve our dream of winning a trophy and if there's no way whatsoever that he can be persuaded to stay at Newcastle, then they have to get the best deal possible and if someone's prepared to pay what they want, you have to say thank you and build for the future. There's no individual bigger than the football club."

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