Alan Shearer has slammed comparisons between Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit from Liverpool and Alexander Isak’s transfer saga at Newcastle, branding the debate a 'stupid question'.
The Newcastle legend was speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast when host Gary Lineker read out a listener question suggesting Shearer had taken a different stance on the two players because one involves his beloved Magpies.
The question drew an immediate and sharp response.
“What a stupid question that is, you can’t compare them at all,” Shearer hit back.
Alan Shearer has slammed comparisons between Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit from Liverpool and Alexander Isak’s transfer saga at Newcastle, branding the debate a 'stupid question'
|PA/RESTISFOOTBALL
“Trent was a kid who was brought up at Liverpool, he came to the end of his contract.
"He didn’t refuse to play, he didn’t refuse to train, and then he was well within his rights to leave.
“Now, Isak’s got three years left on his contract. It doesn’t take a genius to work that out, does it? Come on.”
Liverpool have already tested Newcastle’s resolve with a £110 million bid for the Swedish striker, but the move was swiftly rejected.
JUST IN: Newcastle hit back at Alexander Isak and take aim at Liverpool in latest twist to ongoing saga
The 25-year-old has made it clear he wants to leave St James’ Park and has been exiled from first-team training since the start of pre-season.
It comes just months after Liverpool supporters were left reeling when homegrown star Alexander-Arnold shocked Anfield by running down his contract and signing for Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Lineker suggested Reds fans still feel burned by that departure.
“I think Liverpool fans’ problem is that he [Alexander-Arnold] is a Liverpool lad and they feel like they didn’t get a monster transfer fee for him,” the former Match of the Day host said.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold decided to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid earlier this summer, with the defender suffering a backlash
| REUTERS“Obviously they did get something in the end, £8–10 million, from Real Madrid because they wanted him to play in the Club World Cup.”
But Shearer was adamant that the two stories were incomparable.
He pointed out that Alexander-Arnold honoured his contract until the very last day, while Isak has downed tools despite still having several years left on his deal.
The Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer also admitted to being personally taken aback by Isak’s actions, having met the Swede earlier this year.
“I sat down with him, what, five or six months ago,” Shearer explained. “I didn’t see this in him, to be honest.
"I thought he was a manager’s dream, the way he spoke about himself, the club, his life, everything else.
“So obviously something has massively upset him, and we don’t know what that is.
"But those two circumstances — Trent and Alexander Isak — are totally different.”
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The Toon remain adamant their talisman isn't for sale, though are pressing ahead with plans to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford nonetheless.