'I see it as a compliment': Les Ferdinand says Alexander Isak speculation is 'disrespectful' but also positive

Nothing broke my heart quite like the day Newcastle United sold Les Ferdinand. The number nine, who gave up his number to Alan Shearer and set about creating one of the most lethal partnerships in Premier League history, was a huge part of what made The Entertainers so special.

Along with Shearer, David Ginola, Rob Lee and Peter Beardsley, Ferdinand was part of a formidable attacking force that was broken up far too soon.

Despite that, Ferdinand still retains the love for Newcastle United and as he gears up for pundit duty with Sky Sports for the Carabao Cup final, he has been speaking about Newcastle's current main man, Alexander Isak.

Speaking to The Chronicle, Ferdinand has addressed the constant speculation around Alexander Isak and a move to a so-called 'bigger club'.

Les Ferdinand admits the Alexander Isak speculation is 'disrespectful' to Newcastle

Ferdinand states that it's a compliment to Isak that he's being talked about in those circles, but admits it's a bit disrespectful to Newcastle.

"It's a compliment to him. I always thought that. If you are a Newcastle fan or somebody involved of course you don't want to lose your players especially when they are being talked about.

"It's disrespectful as it's like being suggested that Newcastle aren't big enough to keep him. But at the same time, I see that as a compliment; the best players in the world get talked about.

"I think he is one of the best in Europe if not the world. And if that is the case, people will look at him.

"It is then about how long we can keep him for. We need to start winning trophies and being contenders for the Champions League places because that's what people will cite, they will say: 'He needs Champions League and to win things'.

"He needs Newcastle to do that but he's somebody that you want Newcastle to build around not take away."

Lifting the Carabao Cup trophy on Sunday can set Newcastle down a path

Once again, we just love that Sir Les refers to Newcastle as 'we'. That group of players from the Kevin Keegan days were absolutely smitten with the club, to be fair, Shearer probably beat it into them.

Hopefully there will come a day when our big players are viewed by the media as being where they belong, like there's no next step they can take that would be a step up.

It may be a few years away, but we can get there. Lifting that trophy on Sunday afternoon will go a long way to making that happen.