Real Sociedad earning £60 million for Alexander Isak is a ‘mind blowing’ achievement after Newcastle United made the Swedish striker their most expensive-ever Premier League signing, Terry Gibson tells El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly Podcast.
Talk about an instant impact.
It took Newcastle’s £60 million man just 38 minutes to open his account in English football, away from home at Anfield no less. But the fact that Isak is already a third of the way from matching last season’s open play tally speaks volumes about his final few months in the blue-and-white of Sociedad went.
“(The fee is) mind blowing. Last season, you could probably say he was the fifth, sixth, seventh most important player at Sociedad,” says Gibson, a former Tottenham and Manchester United forward who now works for La Liga TV.
“You could argue that (former Crystal Palace flop Alexander) Sorloth did better than him when he came in. His goal ratio was slightly better. and there were a few games when Sorloth was picked ahead of Isak.”
Will Alexander Isak be worth the £60 million for Newcastle United?
In Isak’s defence, he did reach double figures in all of his first three Sociedad seasons; 16, 17 and 10 respectively. And Gibson acknowledges that this is a footballer with clear talent and potential even if he still has much to prove, while that price-tag has been substantially inflated by the so-called ‘Premier League tax’.
“He’s a talented footballer,” Gibson adds. “I’ve seen a lot of him in La Liga and in international football as well. Last season, was it a one off? 16 and 17 goals in the previous seasons, and then six last season, of which only three were from open play. And he played in quite an attacking team!
“I’m not slaughtering him (but) I think he’s got some way to go. I can see his obvious attributes would be appealing to clubs. But I just think £60 million… what does that make (Sociedad captain and talisman Mike) Oyarzabal now?”
The confidence and the ruthlessness with which Isak opened his account for Newcastle – before showcasing those same attributes again with a wonderful second-half effort narrowly chalked off for offside – should have those on Tyneside hoping they’re going to get the Isak of 2020 rather than the Isak who toiled last season.
“It’s an incredible move for him,” Gibson concludes. “It’s a fantastic football club. If you play for Newcastle up front, and you’re a success, then it’s a fantastic position to be him.
“Callum Wilson, I would say, is ahead of him. But Newcastle clearly are going in the right direction. Isak is a really good player, it’s just my mind was blown by the £60 million.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
