Former Newcastle favourite tips £63m PIF move to be a huge success

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Former Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino has tipped Alexander Isak to succeed in the Premier League after Eddie Howe made the Real Sociedad star the club’s record signing this summer.

Speaking to the Athletic, the La Liga maestro lauded the towering striker’s mentality and his ability to adapt to new systems and cultures, with Merino impressed by how quickly Isak adapted to Sociedad’s style of play after joining from Borussia Dortmund.

Merino spent a season at Newcastle before joining Sociedad on a permanent deal, yet despite spending just one year in the northeast, the 26-year-old is fondly remembered by the Magpies’ faithful, with the midfielder now a key player for Los Txuri-Urdin in La Liga.

The midfielder struck up a good relationship with Isak during their time together for the Basque giants, and despite Newcastle spending a reported £63m to sign the Swedish international, Merino is confident that his former teammate will be a big success in the Premier League for the Toon.

Merino said: “Alex has already started well. His mindset is very good. He can adapt to whatever you tell him. When he came here, he had to adapt to a very specific system of playing where he had a specific role to make an exact movement when the ball was in a certain position.

The Spanish star added on his former Sociedad teammate: “Being from Sweden and being able to adapt showed how smart he is. With his abilities, his speed and strength, the Premier League is a good place for him. He’ll be great for the Magpies!”

Merino is right to hype up superstar Newcastle signing Isak

Newcastle stunned the world with their move to sign Isak in the summer, and early signs already suggest that the 22-year-old will be a major hit for the St. James Park outlet, and Merino’s praise and hype for the PIF signing is more than deserving given how well the midfielder knows the Swedish striker.

Indeed, £63m is a statement signing for Newcastle in this new era for the club, and making Isak their all-time record transfer is a tag that the forward will relish in meeting expectations for, especially with a former Toon in Merino backing his ex-Sociedad teammate to flourish in the Premier League.