Ian Wright slams 'disrespectful' media amid persistent rumours regarding Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak

Newcastle United fans got sick to the backteeth of rumours linking star striker Alexander Isak with a summer move to Arsenal and then Liverpool.

It seemed that just as the Arsenal talk died down, the media just kept the same narrative but did a find-and-replace on Arsenal and changed it with Liverpool.

In all honesty, it wasn't the rumours themselves that irked the Newcastle fanbase, it was the way they were reported.

Both clubs were made out to believe they were simply entitled to Isak. It was as if Newcastle were duty-bound to offer him on a plate if they came knocking.

Ian Wright has called out the 'disrespectful' media

The worst thing was how it just went unchallenged for so long despite Newcastle fans calling it out. Even Keith Downie defended his Sky Sports colleague for bringing Arsenal into the conversation when it just wasn't needed, only to walk that back and admit that Sky Sports were seemingly pushing the agenda and promising to have words with his bosses about it.

Now, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has labelled the persistent rumours as 'disrespectful' on the Kelly and Wrighty Show.

“I think it’s vital that they do get themselves in the Champions League. Winning that trophy has given them the confidence to go forward.

“I look at Newcastle as a place now where people will want to go. There was a period where people were saying, ‘What’s happening with Eddie, is he gonna leave?’.

“I think it’s quite disrespectful people saying about Isak, who’s going to buy Isak. I think they can probably keep Isak and bring the quality in like we’ve seen with [Sandro] Tonali.

“I like the way it’s switched around with Eddie, because I’m sure when Newcastle got taken over, people thought there was going to be a lot of money spent. It hasn’t worked like that, and he’s built a really good team. Them winning that trophy and playing like they’re playing, I really hope they do make it.”

Newcastle United are not a stepping stone club any more

It's good to see that the nonsense is being called out by people in the industry. We've said it many times before, we know that there's always going to be transfer speculation, and we're sure that other fanbases aren't happy when our name is constantly being mentioned alongside their players.

The difference is how the stories are reported and the way Arsenal and Liverpool were made out to seem like they felt entitled to Isak was the big problem.

Newcastle aren't that club any more. We attract stars, we create stars, we do not sell stars unless it is in our interest, and selling Alexander Isak is the furthest thing from being in our interest right now.