Alan Shearer assesses Newcastle United summer and chances in new season (and Alexander Isak…) | OneFootball

Alan Shearer has been talking about Newcastle United.

The lifelong fan and NUFC legend assessing the club’s chances this coming season.

Alan Shearer detailing what has happened so far this summer with Newcastle United, ‘a nightmare’ in his opinion.

The one-time number nine looking at what could happen in the remaining three weeks of the transfer window.

As for Alexander Isak, Alan Shearer’s spells it out, ‘Newcastle United are far bigger than any one individual – it always has been, and always will be.’

Alan Shearer talking about Newcastle United to BBC Sport ahead of the new season – 11 August 2025:

‘So far, Newcastle’s pre-season has been a nightmare. There is no other way of describing it.

They have had a disastrous transfer window, missing out on every one of their top targets they went for, and on top of that they have got Alexander Isak’s situation hanging over them as they get ready for the opening weekend.

One way or another they have to resolve it, but that won’t be easy. Isak clearly wants to leave St James’ Park and join Liverpool, but he cannot be sold if they don’t get anyone in to replace him.

It’s not just one new striker Newcastle need, either. Callum Wilson moved on earlier in the summer so the reality is that if they don’t get two centre-forwards in, Isak does not go anywhere.

That is still a possible scenario and, if he is still at Newcastle when the window closes at the start of September, things get interesting because he will want to play – he could be playing for his World Cup place with Sweden at next summer’s finals.

There are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes surrounding Isak at the moment, but over the next two or three weeks we will find out a lot more about how things could pan out.

At the moment, though, Newcastle’s priority is Saturday and their trip to Aston Villa.

I feel for manager Eddie Howe and the rest of the players who are having to deal with all the noise around this when it is not their fault, and Isak is not going to be with them for that game – which is really disappointing.’

Liverpool and their derisory £110m offer

‘This summer should have been a time for Newcastle to really kick on after last season, following the highs of claiming their first domestic trophy for 70 years and then qualifying for the Champions League.

I don’t know how or why it has been allowed to happen, but right now it feels like much of that momentum has been lost.

Newcastle went into the summer with no chief executive or sporting director, which I find amazing. They knew Darren Eales was stepping down as chief executive last September – 11 months ago – and Paul Mitchell left as sporting director at the end of June.

I don’t know why they haven’t appointed anyone yet or if that has hindered them in the transfer market, because I am not inside the club, but from the outside it is not a good look. It’s a mess, and it begs the question about who has making the big decisions.

Now they have to deal with Isak as well. There are two sides to every story and we haven’t heard from Isak yet, or anyone inside his camp, other than him saying he wants to explore his options.

We don’t know when he told the club that, how he told them, or what his feelings are about exactly why he wants out. What we do know is that Liverpool have offered £110m for him.

In recent years we have seen Enzo Fernandez, Declan Rice and Jack Grealish go for around £100m so, if that is the bar, they are never going to get Isak – a 25-year-old striker who has scored 44 Premier League goals across the past two seasons – for £110m. I don’t think you’d get Dan Burn for that, to be honest.

Newcastle have named their price, which is nearer to £150m, so we will have to see what Liverpool do next. The top and bottom of it is that if Newcastle don’t get the money they want, or the two strikers they need, then Isak stays.’

Why Wissa and Watkins would be a good fit

‘I am not angry about the way Isak has behaved, because I know how football works. I’m disappointed and surprised that this is happening now, but I have been in the game long enough to understand why we have got to this point.

It seems obvious that Liverpool have got into him, or his agent, to turn his head and make him want to go there. From a players’ perspective, rather than a fan, I get the mentality where he has made his mind up about what is best for his future too.

But it is the club that matters most here and, whatever happens next, the crux of the matter is that Newcastle United are far bigger than any one individual – it always has been, and always will be.

Players move on all the time, and do what they have to do, but the club is always there. That’s the one constant, every season.

So, Newcastle have to look after themselves, which means that if they are contemplating letting Isak go for whatever price they want for him, then they also need to get two strikers they want in before they can do that.

If they are available, Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins are proven Premier League strikers and probably the best-case scenario from Newcastle’s point of view.

At the same time, I appreciate fans of those clubs won’t like their centre-forwards being linked with moves away, the same way Newcastle supporters feel right now.

Wissa’s situation, in particular, sounds very similar to Isak’s. It just shows you that this is something that happens in football all the time, and of course it is frustrating when you are on the wrong end of it.’

Predicting how this season will go for Newcastle United?

‘It is very difficult to predict what Newcastle’s season could look like until Isak’s future is sorted out, but it could still be a very good one.

They have got one of, if not the best, midfields in the country, they are really strong in wide areas and it looks like they are signing another centre-half in AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw.

So, looking at the bigger picture, whether Isak stays or goes and they can bring two quality strikers in, they have still got a very good team.

Even so, I am still not sure they would be able to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish. Last season’s top four have done so much good business and gone so big in the transfer market, it is going to be extremely difficult for any of the chasing pack to break into those places, not just Newcastle.’