by Linked with clubs from all across Europe, Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak is a wanted man. Ever since he first came onto the scene as a teenager with AIK, Isak has had admirers across the continent. An early move to talent spotters Borussia Dortmund was hailed as the right idea, but a failure to settle and play regularly seen him sold on to Sociedad. Despite having an incredible hit rate in the transfer window, Dortmund appear to have called this one poorly – Isak is now en route to Newcastle United.
A record fee expected to exceed £60m in time has been agreed for the Sweden international. At only 22, Isak has scored an impressive 33 goals in La Liga across a three-year spell in the league. Impressive results in Europe and in cup competition, too, has propelled the player into the limelight. An impressive goal scoring record for Sweden – 9 goals in 37 caps – is an impressive return for one so young.
Isak impressed in his three full seasons in La Liga, scoring 44 goals in 132 games in total across all competitions. A career record of 77 goals In only 192 games, too, marks Isak out as one of the most prolific young forwards in the game.
Newcastle United spending wisely to break the moneybags mould
When a team is bought over with huge investment behind the deal, huge spending is expected. Go back to last winter, and fans of other teams were proclaiming that Antonio Conte would be picking from a forward line of Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Lionel Messi. The reality, though, has been somewhat different for Newcastle fans.
Instead, coach Eddie Howe and the people behind the scenes have bought smartly. Free from the head-scratching splurges of other newly moneyed clubs, Newcastle are buying for tomorrow. Young players with huge potential who could, over the course of several years, grow into the spine of a young team that was forged on Tyneside.
Rather than chase expensive big names who might see a trip to Newcastle as a payday, the club are spending big on young, hungry players. The summer has seen some hugely interesting signings, such as Sven Botman, but Isak is the most intriguing buy since Bruno Guimaraes arrived last winter.
Fans are excited, and the mood is one of immense positivity. While Callum Wilson is a fine goalscorer, his injury record means he is a luxury as opposed to a nailed on starter. Therefore, the arrival of a hugely impressive young forward in Isak means that Newcastle can avoid profligate spells should Wilson get injured again.
They now have signed one of the players who is deemed as the next generation of S-class young forwards. Isak also helps to sell Newcastle as a club that can play a huge role in the positive development and upward mobility for younger players. Far from the splurging sensations expected when the Saudi Arabian takeover happened, Newcastle appear to be taking a far more methodical, practical route to progress.
