‘Loyalty has really gone’ - Alexander Isak urged to continue demanding Liverpool transfer as Michail Antonio tells Newcastle striker to ‘better himself’ with move

Recently released West Ham striker Antonio has expressed his sympathy for Isak, who has requested to leave Newcastle. Amid ongoing interest from Liverpool, the 35-year-old has suggested the Sweden international does not owe the Magpies hierarchy anything and to do the best thing for his career.

He told The Standard: "People are gonna love it or gonna hate what I'm gonna say, but I'm gonna say either way. As a player, loyalty in the game has really gone. Obviously, I was at West Ham for 10 years, that [loyalty] doesn't really last anymore, and I feel rightly so, because end of the day, clubs no longer treat players like they used to either. Why should the player be loyal to a club? I understand being loyal to fans, but being loyal to a club when he's going to try and better himself and better his life and try and achieve things that he's not going to achieve at another club."

Antonio added: "We are meat to them. As soon as we start going stale, it's time to sell or throw away. It's all about money, and how much money can they make [for] the club? If a club is going to think about the money side of things, why shouldn't a player?

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has opened the door for an Isak exit but the Carabao Cup holders are hoping to find a replacement for him before entertaining a Liverpool transfer. For Antonio, he said this days after his 10-year spell at West Ham came to an end, with the veteran not getting a contract extension eight months after his horror car crash. Like all elite sport, football can be a ruthless business.

While Antonio is on the lookout for a new club, it remains to be seen if former Real Sociedad man Isak, whose contract runs until 2028 at St James' Park, will still be at Newcastle when the transfer window shuts in just under three weeks.