'Good luck to him' - Anthony Elanga speaks out on Newcastle squad's reaction to Alexander Isak's Liverpool move

Isak departed Newcastle on deadline day after a protracted summer saga in which he demanded to join Liverpool. The Reds finally got the deal done on the last day of the window, with the striker leaving for a British-record £125 million ($168m) fee. 

Elanga joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest earlier this summer, and while he is disappointed that he will not play with his countryman for the Magpies, he has wished him all the best at Anfield, and insists the remainder of the squad at St James' Park are merely focused on the upcoming season instead of dwelling on the star's departure. 

Elanga told Fotbollskanalen: “Isak is a Liverpool player right now. I have the chance to play with him in the national team. He had a good career at Newcastle, but right now he is a Liverpool player. Good luck to him.”

He added: “It has been chill. He had a contract with us and right now he is with Liverpool. We all think he is a very good player. We lost a good player but we also signed good players. Hopefully we can look forward and focus on this season.

“It’s his choice. He chose Liverpool. Good luck to him. He is a friend to me and a fantastic footballer. I can play with him in the national team and that is good as well.”

Newcastle play Wolves on September 13 after the international break, while Liverpool play Burnley. First, Sweden face Slovenia and Kosovo in World Cup qualifiers.