Viktor Gyokeres sends message to angry Newcastle fans over Alexander Isak transfer

Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres have both completed big-money transfer moves this summer (Picture: Getty)

Viktor Gyokeres has defended Alexander Isak over the striker’s controversial move from Newcastle to Liverpool, insisting clubs ultimately ‘have the most power’ during transfer negotiations.

Isak’s future remained the subject of intense rumour and speculation ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, with the forward informing Newcastle of his desire to leave earlier in the summer.

Despite already signing Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool were quick to make their interest known regarding a possible deal for Isak before testing Newcastle’s resolve with an ambitious £110million bid.

And while Isak made it clear he wished to move to Anfield after opting out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia, the Magpies rejected Liverpool’s opening offer out of hand.

Liverpool had reportedly been told that they would have to stump up up to £150m in order to capture Isak, leaving the Sweden international in an uncomfortable state of limbo.

But Newcastle decided to ease their demands as the deadline encroached and the Premier League champions were successful with a second offer of £125million for the 25-year-old attacker.

Isak put pen to paper on a six-year contract on Merseyside and will take over the No.9 shirt, most recently worn by Darwin Nunez.

Isak joined Liverpool for a British-record fee of £125m (Picture: Getty) Gyokeres congratulated Isak as they were reunited ahead of Sweden’s World Cup qualifiers (Picture: Getty)

It ended a turbulent period of back and forth between Isak and Newcastle, with the Swede accusing the Toon of ‘broken promises’ before they eventually sanctioned his departure.

A banner pictured outside St James’ Park on deadline day labelled Isak a ‘rat’ and Newcastle made their feelings abundantly clear with the coldest of farewell messages to the striker.

But asked about Isak’s move at Sweden’s training camp on Tuesday, Arsenal new boy Gyokeres suggested his fellow countryman had done nothing wrong.

‘The clubs have the most power and it’s maybe difficult for the players to choose in a lot of cases,’ Gyokeres told Sky Sports ahead of Sweden’s World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo.

‘When it’s a player that is not wanted in a club, it’s the total opposite and they don’t have any power and the club can literally do whatever they want with the player.

‘It’s difficult but it’s how that situation is.’

Gyokeres swapped Sporting for Arsenal in a £64m move in July (Picture: Getty)

Gyokeres made sure to pass on his congratulations to Isak after they were reunited just hours after his compatriot’s big-money switch.

‘I haven’t spoken with him too much because he just came [to Sweden’s training camp],’ Gyokeres added.

‘I said hi to him and congratulated him for the move and not so much more.

‘I’ve said before about my situation and it can be the same, you don’t really know what’s been going on behind the scenes and I don’t really know in his case what the situation has been exactly.’

The Arsenal striker has enjoyed sharing the pitch with Isak at international level and hopes they can further strengthen their on-field relationship as Sweden look to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

‘We’ve played a few games together and felt very good in those games,’ he continued.

‘He’s scored, I’ve scored and we’ve assisted each other so I think it’s good to keep going on that path.

‘We must keep trying to improve with the team and keep going in that way.’

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