Gary Lineker in heated debate with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards after Alexander Isak saga

Gary Lineker has sparked an online debate as he described footballers as being “treated like cattle”, while discussing Alexander Isak’s controversial conduct leading up to his move to Liverpool.

Newcastle were at the front and centre of this summer’s transfer window, spending in excess of £250million on incomings.

But what got the most traction was talisman Isak’s desperate attempts to force his way out of the club.

The Swedish international refused to train or play for Eddie Howe’s side, subsequently releasing a bombshell statement demanding a move away despite the club remaining adamant he was to stay for one more year.

Crucially, Isak had three years remaining on his contract meaning, theoretically, the club had the power to hold out until a club bids a fee that matches their valuation.

But the power was snatched out of their hands by Isak who, through refusing to play any part in the squad, forced Newcastle into selling their star player in the final days of the window.

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Ultimately Newcastle did not get a bad deal, £125million to be precise, while they were able to replace Isak with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

It has sparked online debate on whether a player who is contracted should be able to refuse to take part in team training and effectively go on strike.

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Alan Shearer and Micah Richards believe a precedent has now been set by Isak and Wissa, who also forced his way out of Brentford, and it is something that must be “sorted out” - whereas Lineker vehemently disagreed.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: “I think because of what you’ve seen with Isak and Wissa, then yes, you will see more of it. I don’t like what the players have done when they refuse to play for the clubs whilst having a contract behind them; it’s not a good look.

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“Players will look at that and think ‘Well, he did it, so can I’.”

Richards agreed: “It’s not a good look. I don’t like it and it needs to be sorted out.”

Lineker had a different viewpoint, however, and expressed his sympathy for the footballers.

“I think a large amount of the problem is the fact that footballers are bought and sold,” the 64-year-old explained. “You don’t get that in any other walk of life, do you? You’re treated a bit like cattle. Human beings being bought and sold, it’s a very strange thing, and it’s almost unique to football.

“Even other sports, it works differently to that. It’s something we’ve become used to for so many years, but in reality, footballers should be allowed to go wherever they want.

“If you work in something else, banking maybe, and another bank comes in and you get headhunted, you’d go work for them if you want to go and work for them because you might get a bigger salary. We’ve just been accustomed to it for so long.”

Richards disagreed with Lineker and quipped: “If I was working for Morrisons, the CEO, I couldn’t then go to Asda straight away, could I?”

The online debate has been intensified by Marc Guehi’s failed move to Liverpool. It has been said that the defender has been punished for acting professionally, with Crystal Palace pulling out of their deal to sell him to Liverpool at the eleventh hour.

In contrast to this, Wissa and Isak were both successful with their aggressive tactic. However, both have tarnished a legacy that could have been great, which is the trade-off.