Dan Burn relieved ‘Isak saga’ is over after striker’s £130m move to Liverpool | OneFootball

Dan Burn insists he holds no grudges against Alexander Isak following his controversial transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool.

Isak completed a £130 million move to Anfield on deadline day, ending a summer-long saga in which he refused to play for Newcastle.

The 25-year-old was contracted until 2028 but made his stance clear, training alone and later working at Real Sociedad’s facilities while the Magpies travelled for their pre-season tour.

His actions angered many Newcastle fans, who saw the forward’s refusal to play as a betrayal, but Burn urged supporters to consider the realities of the modern game.

“I’ve got nothing but good wishes for Alex, no animosity,” Burn said at an England press conference on Friday.#

“As a Newcastle fan, you know how protective we are of the club. You want players who want to be there, but footballers have things they want to achieve in their careers.”

Burn admitted he understood the frustration among supporters but argued that transfers are rarely straightforward.

“I understand why fans are frustrated, but I’ve been in the game long enough now to understand what’s going on,” he added.

Liverpool initially had a £110m bid rejected before agreeing to a British record fee.

Isak issued a public statement in August claiming ‘broken promises’ had led to the breakdown of his relationship with Newcastle, further souring the atmosphere around St James’ Park.

Burn conceded that the situation was difficult for the squad during pre-season.

“Alex is a mate, so it was tough because he wanted to be around and help the team,” he said. “But you also understand that he has to do what’s right for him personally.”

The defender admitted relief that the transfer window is now closed and the uncertainty has been resolved.

“We wanted the window to close to have clarity on it,” Burn said. “It was frustrating knowing something was hanging over us, but I’m happy it’s over now.”

Newcastle quickly moved to reinforce their attack before Isak’s departure, signing Germany striker Nick Woltemade in a €75m deal plus add-ons and completing a £55m move for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

Isak, who has not played since the final day of last season, has been called up by Sweden and could feature in their World Cup qualifier against Slovenia.