At Newcastle United, there’s a quiet sense of satisfaction as former striker Alexander Isak continues to struggle for form at Liverpool.
The Swedish forward, once a hero at St James’ Park, forced a move to Anfield during the summer in a deal worth around £125 million. But since his exit, things have not gone as planned.
Now 25, Isak has managed just one goal for his new club a strike in the Carabao Cup and has failed to make any significant impact in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, his replacement, Nick Woltemade, is thriving on Tyneside, scoring freely and quickly earning the love of Newcastle fans.
The contrast between the two players could not be clearer. Woltemade, tall, powerful, and full of confidence, has already netted five times for Newcastle, looking perfectly at home in Eddie Howe’s system. Isak, on the other hand, appears to be a shadow of his former self isolated, frustrated, and visibly short of confidence.
His performances for Liverpool have lacked the spark and sharpness that once made him one of the Premier League’s most exciting forwards.
That change in demeanor has not gone unnoticed at Newcastle. According to Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, someone who worked closely with Isak during his time on Tyneside has shared some revealing insights into how the forward looks since joining Liverpool.
Speaking on BBC’s Premier League Review podcast, Edwards said: “I was talking to somebody who worked with him closely at Newcastle. They’ve obviously been watching and they were talking about his body language. He doesn’t look happy. He doesn’t look sure of himself. He looks frustrated. He certainly looks lethargic.”
That sense of unhappiness is striking, especially for a player who forced his way out of Newcastle in search of a bigger stage. But life at Anfield has been far from straightforward.
Under Arne Slot, Liverpool are still adapting to a new tactical system, and Isak seems unsure of his role. With Mo Salah, Darwin Núñez, and Hugo Ekitike all competing for attacking positions, the Swede has struggled to find his rhythm or confidence.
His touch looks heavy, his movement less decisive, and his trademark composure in front of goal appears to have deserted him.
For Newcastle, though, the fallout from Isak’s exit has been handled impressively. The Magpies were left short of a striker at the start of the campaign, which contributed to a shaky start to the season.
Yet once Woltemade arrived, things began to click again. The German forward’s strength, intelligence, and technical quality have made him an instant hit with supporters, and his partnership with Newcastle’s creative midfielders has already produced some outstanding performances.
From a purely financial perspective, Newcastle might feel they came out of the Isak transfer on top. They secured a record fee for a player who wanted to leave and used that windfall to strengthen key areas of the squad.
However, not everyone at the club sees it as a total win. Transfer expert Graeme Bailey, speaking exclusively to Geordie Boot Boys, explained that Newcastle didn’t necessarily want to lose Isak at all.
“In an ideal world, Newcastle would have Isak and Woltemade,” he said. “They didn’t sell him because of financial pressure; they sold him because the player wanted to go.
There were issues behind the scenes, and Newcastle weren’t happy about losing him. Of course they weren’t. They’ll be pleased with how they’ve coped since, but it’s too early to say who really won this deal.”
He’s right. While Isak’s current struggles may make Newcastle’s decision look smart, football has a way of turning quickly. If the Swedish striker rediscovers his touch, Liverpool could yet see the best of him.
But for now, Newcastle fans are watching with a certain sense of vindication. Their team has moved on, their new number nine is delivering, and Eddie Howe’s project continues to build momentum.
Still, there’s no denying that Isak’s decision to leave has backfired so far. His once effortless confidence seems replaced by frustration, his swagger by uncertainty.
For Newcastle supporters, it’s proof that sometimes the grass isn’t greener elsewhere. The Toon have regained their rhythm without him, and while Isak tries to find his feet again at Anfield, life on Tyneside goes on stronger, united, and perhaps a little prouder for having come through the chaos of his departure.
