Viktor Gyökeres in action during Arsenal's Premier League match, September 2025. (Getty Images via ESPN)
Credit: Getty Images via ESPN
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has publicly backed Liverpool’s Alexander Isak over his controversial £125 million transfer from Newcastle, calling the saga “toxic” while both Swedish internationals prepare for World Cup qualifiers.
Viktor Gyokeres Supports Alexander Isak After ‘Toxic’ Newcastle Transfer Saga
Viktor Gyokeres has thrown his support behind Alexander Isak following the striker’s acrimonious departure from Newcastle United, with the Arsenal forward describing the transfer process as fundamentally flawed. Speaking during Sweden’s World Cup qualifier preparations, Gyokeres rejected media narratives about “player power” controlling modern transfers, insisting clubs retain significant leverage over unwanted players.
Isak’s record-breaking £125 million move to Liverpool, finalized on September 1, 2025, became mired in controversy after the striker publicly criticized Newcastle for allegedly breaking transfer promises. The Swedish international took to social media expressing discontent with his former club’s handling of the situation, claiming agreements weren’t honored during the protracted negotiations that stretched to deadline day.
Drawing from his own difficult summer transfer from Sporting CP to Arsenal for £64 million, Gyokeres empathized with Isak’s frustrations while challenging popular misconceptions about player influence. The Arsenal striker clarified that players don’t always get their way, particularly when clubs are determined to retain or restrict them, countering widespread “player power” narratives in modern football.
Sporting CP’s president had previously condemned what he termed “blackmail and insults” during Gyokeres’ own transfer negotiations, highlighting the adversarial nature of high-profile moves. Both Swedish internationals voiced dissatisfaction with their previous clubs over unfulfilled promises and deteriorating relationships, suggesting systemic issues in modern transfer dealings rather than isolated incidents.
While both players maintain professional focus on Sweden’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the precise details of Isak’s alleged agreement with Newcastle remain undisclosed. Neither Newcastle nor Liverpool have issued further statements clarifying the disputed claims, leaving potential legal consequences and the full nature of the transfer controversy unresolved as media attention continues surrounding both record-breaking moves.
