For Viktor Gyökeres, the long-awaited move from Sporting to Arsenal became a reality in July. While waiting for his dream move from Newcastle to Liverpool, Alexander Isak is reportedly refusing to play.
But pushing for a move goes both ways, according to former Premier League player and current football expert Jonas Olsson.
If clubs want to get rid of players, they remove them from training, players have to play with the U19 team, and so on. So it's not just the players, says Jonas Olsson and continues:
It's part of the game, unfortunately.
”The agents take the hit”
Still, it's mainly the players who are criticized. Simply because the clubs have more sympathy from the fans, according to Olof Lundh.
Of course, you can think it's despicable, I understand fans and others who get upset. It's much easier to point out a person than the clubs.
The players' agents are often pointed out as the masterminds behind the actions.
I think that often the agents take the hit for the player, I think very rarely that an agent goes out and argues without having anchored it with the player, says Lundh.
One forgets that clubs like to use agents to get rid of players. This is like a game of thieves, and it can be difficult for us journalists to get full insight into what's happening, Lundh continues.
”Negative for his career”
In early September, Sweden will play World Championship qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo.
Say that Isak doesn't get to move and the transfer window closes, should he just wait it out? It's negative for his career. Sweden has a World Championship qualifier to play in September, it's hardly optimal if you're not playing any matches for your team, says Olof Lundh.
How do you think the Isak situation will play out?
I don't think he would have taken this step if he didn't feel that there was a chance to go to Liverpool. It may take until the transfer window closes (August 31) but I think that in the end, he will move, says Lundh.
Riyad Mahrez – from Leicester City to Manchester City. Went on strike at Leicester in the summer of 2017 and again in January 2018 to force a move, despite the club not wanting to sell him. In the summer of 2018, Leicester gave up and Mahrez got his move to City.
Luis Suarez – from Liverpool to FC Barcelona. Arsenal showed interest in Liverpool's attacking star, but the Merseyside club refused "The Gunners" offer. That made Suarez consider suing Liverpool, and he refused to play for the club for a period. The Uruguayan changed his mind later and played one more season with Liverpool, where he won the top scorer league, but got his move in 2014 – with the destination Barcelona.
Raheem Sterling – from Liverpool to Manchester City. After City's first two bids were rejected, Sterling refused to join Liverpool's preseason tour. When City made a third bid, they decided to sell anyway.
Source: givemesport.com, football365.com.
