Former Newcastle United full-back John Anderson believes St James' Park is still "missing" Alexander Isak and says the transfer "saga" didn't help club matters in the summer transfer window either.
The Sweden international signed a six-year contract to join fellow Premier League side Liverpool for a British-record transfer fee of £125m in September 2025.
"I don't think anybody would disagree with the fact that we have missed Alexander Isak," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle. "He was pivotal to the way that we played.
"He scored 20-odd goals last season but not only did he score goals, he also created chances and made goals for others with his pace and the way he stood defenders up.
"The saga of trying to keep him dragged on too long. It didn't give the club time to get the players they wanted in.
"They tried to get people in but those players decided they wanted to go elsewhere, so instead we got Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.
"But they are totally different players to Alexander Isak. He made things happen."
Listen to the full conversation on BBC Sounds
