Newcastle United are reportedly keen on a summer swoop for Alexander Isak, but Real Sociedad’s £40 million asking price could price them out of a move.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, Newcastle United have Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak on their radar as one of their alternative targets after the Hugo Ekitike deal fell through. However, an asking price above the £40 million mark would put them off due to Financial Fair Play constraints.
Not long ago, the signing of Hugo Ekitike to Newcastle United looked to be a foregone conclusion. The Magpies had agreed a transfer fee with Stade de Reims, while personal terms were not the issue either; it is the player’s agent’s exorbitant demands that have been the tip of the iceberg for Newcastle, who are ready to move on and look at other options instead.
There is no denying that Ekitike has a lot of potential and has all the tools to become one of Europe’s premier attackers, going by his impressive breakout campaign last term. But as the transfer saga continues to rumble on, the chances of getting the deal done are becoming slimmer, with agents employing their infamous tricks to include other top clubs in the equation.
Newcastle must turn their attention towards other players as they do need a competent striker. To that end, Daily Mail journalist Simon Jones has listed a host of names on Newcastle’s watch, with Real Sociedad’s highly sought-after striker Alexander Isak one of the players on the shortlist.
The 22-year-old is a far more established option and has more experience under his belt than Ekitike. A regular in La Liga and international football, he has racked up 130 appearances for La Real, averaging roughly a goal every three games (43 goals, eight assists). Not to mention, the Swedish striker earned a lot of plaudits for his impressive performances at UEFA Euro 2020 last year.
That said, this past campaign, he was not as impressive as the last two, netting only ten times in 41 outings across all competitions. Isak scored 33 goals combined in the two previous seasons, underlining why he is valued at around £40 million and why teams like Arsenal and Manchester United are constantly linked with him, with the former even weighing up a move for him.
A lethal combination of speed, skill, goals and power, the 22-year-old clearly has a bright future and would have been a coup for the Magpies. But it would be difficult for Newcastle to pay Isak’s £40 million asking price despite their deep pockets. Despite the owners’ wealth, the Magpies have very little wriggle room to deceive the onlookers as the club’s accounts will be under constant check from the FFP and the Premier League.
As such, Newcastle have not put all their eggs in one basket and are monitoring the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Gianluca Scamacca, Gabriel Barbosa, and Armando Broja, with Broja a low-cost options. Whether they will step up their interest in any of these names remains to be seen.
