The summer transfer window saw Yoane Wissa and Alexander Isak publicly go on strikes to force exits from Brentford and Newcastle United respectively.
Those attempts yielded results for the two players, as the 29-year-old replaced the Sweden international at St James’ Park, but the pair have received widespread criticism for going AWOL in the process.
The issue has become a talking point during the international break, with players with connections being asked about it.
Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer told TV2 that little is said when clubs try to force players out but there is mudslinging when the opposite happens.
The Bees defender said: “Unfortunately, that’s how football has become. There is little focus on it when clubs try to push players out of their clubs, when they have longer contacts and you try to get rid of them.
“If you are going to focus on players who are striking, you also have to address a huge problem where clubs don’t treat their players well enough when they are not good enough.”
There could also be a larger context to the 27-year-old’s comments as there have been suggestions that he too wanted to depart Brentford during the summer transfer window.
The player was asked about whether he would ever go on strike to get a transfer done.
In response to the tricky question, he said: “If you get far enough into negotiations and feel that the club has to sell, I don’t really have a huge problem with that.”
Ajer clearly doesn’t have an issue with Wissa forcing through his move, and it may give some insight into how many players view the situation from the inside.
