Viktor Gyokeres & Alexander Isak warned transfer sagas will 'catch up' with them as ex-striker slams new Arsenal & Liverpool signings

Former Swiss international striker Alexander Frei has heavily criticised the new Premier League forwards for the methods used in convincing their former clubs to sell them, with both Swedish stars caught up in public feuds before finally being granted their wishes.

The criticism targets the controversial nature of two of the summer's most protracted transfer sagas. Isak's move from Newcastle United to Liverpool for a British record £125 million (€145m) was finalised on deadline day after the striker refused to play in the Magpies' opening three league matches to force the transfer. He also took to social media to accuse the club of breaking promises to him. The 25-year-old has since opted to shun all media duties while with the Swedish national team to focus on his football. 

Similarly, Gyokeres's switch to Arsenal for £64 million (€74m) followed a drawn-out saga that sparked a conflict with Sporting CP's president, who engaged in a war of words with the player and his agent. 

Speaking after Sweden's 2-0 loss to Kosovo, in which both forwards featured, Frei took aim at the pair and suggested their transfers may backfire and could badly affect the national team's World Cup hopes.

"With Isak… It just fits the picture. He went on strike at Newcastle, refused to train, and then moved for almost 150 million euros. An amount I can't understand at all. This will be one of the biggest misunderstandings in football. You'll see," he said on Blick.

"The same thing happened with Gyokeres. He went on strike in Lisbon so he could join Arsenal. I simply don't understand that. It will catch up with you. Maybe this is the first warning that they won't qualify for the World Cup."

Both Isak and Gyokeres now face the immediate pressure of performing for their new clubs to justify their significant transfer fees. For Liverpool and Arsenal, the focus will be on integrating their expensive new assets into the squads as the Premier League season continues. On the international stage, the Swedish duo will be central to their country's efforts to revive a faltering World Cup qualification campaign after picking up one point from two matches.