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 the striker’s controversial transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool.

Isak completed a £130m move to Anfield on deadline day, ending a summer-long saga in which he refused to play for Newcastle in order to force through the switch.

The 25-year-old had been under contract until 2028 but made his stance clear, training alone and later working at Real Sociedad’s facilities while Eddie Howe’s squad 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 saw a £110m bid rejected before agreeing a British-record fee. Isak then 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 helping the team. But you also understand that he has to do what’s right for him personally,” he said.

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. It was frustrating knowing there was something hanging over us, but I’m happy it’s over now,” Burn said.

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.