Why Newcastle are making Alexander Isak their club-record signing
Callum Wilson coming off late on against Manchester City will have been a concern for every Newcastle fan. Despite his injury issues, Wilson has scored 22 league goals for the Magpies since the start of the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, including key strikes in meetings with Nottingham Forest and City this season, so if he is to endure another spell on the sidelines, then the Magpies will be robbed of their primary goal threat.
Backup Chris Wood netted in midweek, but since his move to the Magpies in January, the New Zealand striker has struggled for consistency in front of goal, scoring only three times in all competitions for Eddie Howe’s side. With less than a week to go until the transfer closes, Newcastle are looking to add another frontman to the ranks. Joao Pedro is high on the club’s wishlist, and they are seemingly unwilling to rest on their laurels having launched a big money move for Alexander Isak.
It’s a deal that will make Isak Newcastle’s club-record arrival, trumping the £40m the spent to sign forward-cum-midfielder Joelinton back in 2019. The Swede may have endured a disappointing 2021/22 campaign, scoring just six goals for Real Sociedad, but he does have a decent record in Spain, having netted 33 times since joining La Real back in 2019, nine of which came in his debut La Liga campaign where he made more appearances off the bench (23) than he did from the outset (14).
Standing at 6’3″, Isak is an imposing figure in the final third, but to the uninitiated, the youngster could be considered primarily a target man. Rather, the mobile Isak is far more dangerous with the ball at his feet where he can maximise his dribbling ability to hurt opponents.
One of Isak’s two statistically calculated WhoScored strengths is ‘dribbling’ and for good reason, too, with 101 successful dribbles ranking 32nd since the start of the 2019/20 La Liga season. A success rate of 53.2% over the same period may require some refining, yet that Isak isn’t deterred in his pursuit to beat a marker should be commended. Often found drifting to the flanks, he could prove the perfect foil for Wilson on the frontline in either a 4-3-3 setup, or should Eddie Howe switch to a 4-4-2 if needs must.
“I want to be a modern striker. I love playing football and that means being involved as much as possible,” Isak told the Independent last year and while he may have the stature of a barrelling number nine, that he has averaged 32.2 touches per 90 in La Liga, shows how involved he wishes to be. The modern day striker doesn’t simply come alive in the penalty area, but rather looks to pull markers out of position and vacate space that can be maximised by those in support.
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Isak ticks these boxes and then some and with Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron in support – for now at least – the pair could certainly capitalise on the former’s willingness to drift out wide. And considering Wilson’s injury history, coupled with the fact he turns 31 in February, minutes certainly wouldn’t be in short supply for the Sweden international.
Even so, with Newcastle reportedly spending upwards of £60m to sign Isak, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll join and play second fiddle to Wilson, even if the latter is fit. A proven Premier League goalscorer he might be, Isak brings a little more off the ball that would help Howe implement a more fluid frontline at St. James’ Park.
While Newcastle have been a touch reserved in the transfer window, they are looking to make a big splash in the final knockings of the market ahead of next week’s deadline. Isak offers something different on the frontline for Howe’s side that will certainly aid their quest to secure a European finish.
