Viktor Gyokeres refutes ‘player power’ claims following Alexander Isak transfer

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·2. September 2025

Viktor Gyokeres refutes ‘player power’ claims following Alexander Isak transfer

Viktor Gyokeres does not believe that players hold too much power after he and Alexander Isak went on strike to force through transfers to Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.

Isak finally signed for Liverpool on Monday after missing Newcastle United‘s pre-season tour and their opening three Premier League games, training away from the squad and aired his grievances in public, accusing the club of “broken promises”.

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Gyokeres himself refused to play for Sporting Clube de Portugal again after his agent claimed the Lisbon outfit had reneged on a “gentlemen’s agreement” to allow him leave for £60 million. He eventually joined the Gunners for £55m plus £8.5m in potential add-ons.

Yoane Wissa employed a similar tactic to engineer his departure from Brentford, taking himself out of contention for selection until he joined Newcastle for £55m this week.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher contrasted that approach with Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, who “conducted himself fantastically well” but was denied a move to Anfield. The former Liverpool defender believes it could be the beginning of a trend of players emulating the strategy to get their way.

“Other players in this position in a year’s time will look at how Isak and Wissa have gone about it and how that gives them a greater opportunity to get out – and that would be a sad day for football. Because I don’t think it’s been great how both players have conducted themselves,” Carragher told Sky Sports News.

“I have no issue with players wanting to leave a club – transfers happen and it’s part and parcel of the game. It’s understandable that those two players want to move on and play for bigger clubs to give them a better chance for their careers and to win more silverware, or maybe gain more money.

“But I can’t help but think that if someone is putting thousands of pounds in your bank account every week, you should be training and playing.”

Viktor Gyokeres refutes ‘player power’ claims following Alexander Isak transfer

Gyokeres was asked about the Isak saga while on international duty with Sweden, telling Sky Sports News on Tuesday: “It can be the same that you don’t really know what’s been going on behind [the scenes].

“I don’t really know in his case what the situation has been exactly.”

Asked if the notion of ‘player power’ is unfair on Gyokeres and Isak, the Arsenal forward replied: “We all play. And the clubs have the most power. Maybe it’s difficult for the players to choose in a lot of cases.

“He doesn’t have any power, clubs can do what they want with a player. It’s difficult but it’s how the situation is.”

Read – Every Premier League team to break their transfer record this summer