Alexander Isak, under the guidance of Eddie Howe at Newcastle, has rapidly established himself as one of Europe’s top strikers. The Swedish international signed a six-year contract at St James’ Park in 2022, moving from Real Sociedad for a record-breaking £63million.
Despite a thigh injury affecting his debut season, Isak still managed to score 11 goals. However, the 25-year-old has truly excelled over the past two years, and his hefty fee has been paid back. Last season, he scored an impressive 21 league goals, and this season is shaping up similarly. With 17 goals in just 21 league games, he is helping Howe’s Magpies challenge for a top-four spot.
Yet, such success has sparked rumours, with Arsenal reportedly interested in the Swede. This situation, which led Howe to urge his players to ignore such “noise”, highlights the level Isak has reached. It even echoes Erling Haaland’s experience before his move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City.
“I think it comes with the territory now, to be honest,” was manager Howe’s admission when asked about the speculation that surrounds Isak. “Maybe in my very early days that would have maybe left more of an impression, those comments. But, I think when you’re in the position I’m in now, you sort of ignore it, and it’s irrelevant.
“There will be so much talk, noise and rumour, and you can’t control it all. You can’t even begin to try, so you just have to ignore it and focus on the facts, I think. Our players are loved by us, wanted by us and we’ve got massive games to come. We need them to perform so their focus can only be on what they’re delivering in the here and now.”
Isak’s goalscoring prowess initially drew the Gunners and other club’s interest over the summer when it became apparent that Newcastle were perhaps in the market to sell star names due to the prospect of potential profit and sustainability rules breaches, reports the Mirror.
(Image: PA)
While no such deal panned out, and panic sales were ruled out, the sheer talent that Isak has become – scoring in eight successive top-flight games this season – and Arsenal’s lack of a centre-forward has meant that constant rumours run rife.
In the Premier League, perhaps the only marksman who could lay a glove on the Swedish talisman is City’s Haaland. The Norwegian, who, along with Cole Palmer, was one of only two players to have bested Isak’s tally of 21 league goals last campaign, underwent a similar type of treatment to what the 25-year-old faced when he was setting Bundesliga goal-scoring records in 2021.
This “noise” generated after Haaland hit 50 German top-flight goals in just 50 games – similar to the chatter impacting Isak – ended up negatively impacting his former club, Dortmund, according to their sporting director Sebastian Kehl, with the striker becoming something of a burden.
(Image: Getty Images)
“In the end, the Haaland issue became a burden in the locker room,” Kehl told German publication Sport Bild in 2022. “As much as we always loved Haaland and he was successful with us, in the end, he became a burden on the dressing room, the club and the whole environment.
“He had become the subject of every conversation. Outside the club, almost everything was exclusively focused on him. In the end, the timing of the transfer was right for both parties. And we are all happy for Erling that he continues to be so successful.”
While Howe’s comments seem to suggest that the speculation surrounding Isak is having an impact – although potentially not as dramatic as Haaland’s Dortmund scenario – if enthusiasm from his suitors intensifies, Newcastle may find themselves in a quandary.
Despite it not being his fault, Isak has played his way into potentially becoming one of the most in-demand Premier League forwards, leading the Magpies to consider their options. According to The Telegraph, Isak’s team is set to offer him an enhanced contract very soon.
Securing such a deal has become the top objective for Howe and Newcastle. They are intent on dispelling any detrimental whisperings akin to those that clouded Haaland’s spell in Germany and cementing the future of the formidable forward who’s propelling them towards Champions League aspirations.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/alexander-isak-newcastle-transfer-howe-30904491
