Troy Deeney Urges Alexander Isak to Boycot Newcastle’s Season

Former Watford captain Troy Deeney has urged Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak to sabotage training sessions in order to force a move to Liverpool.

Isak, 25, has been at the centre of one of the Premier League’s biggest transfer sagas this summer, refusing to train or play for Newcastle as he pushes for a move to Anfield.

Liverpool had a £110million bid rejected last month, and the Sweden international deepened tensions earlier this week by accusing the club of “broken promises” in a statement released on social media.

Deeney, who made more than 400 appearances for Watford, told The Sun that Isak may need to deliberately disrupt Eddie Howe’s training sessions if he is determined to leave. The former striker recalled using similar tactics to force his own transfer from Walsall to Watford in 2010.

“In private, my agent said, ‘You’re going to have to kick up a fuss here,’” Deeney said. “You’ll do all of the running, but as soon as a ball is involved, you’re going to have to ruin sessions, you’re going to have to kick balls away. But importantly, you can’t let anyone on the outside know what’s going on.”

Deeney admitted the approach left him feeling guilty but insisted it was sometimes necessary, and ultimately worked for him in forcing a move out of Walsall.

“That’s how Isak will be feeling,” Deeney said. “This is a career-changing, career-defining move. You’re going from Newcastle to one of the biggest clubs in world football in Liverpool, where you are probably going to win major titles.”

While Newcastle have maintained they are not planning to sell Isak, especially after his public statement clearly irritated the club, it’s becoming quite obvious that both sides have reached a point of no return in their relationship.

The Magpies face Liverpool at St James’ Park on Monday, though Isak has already been ruled out and is not expected to make any sort of appearance at SJP.

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