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Report: Newcastle add £40m La Liga striker to shortlist as Ekitike deal falls through

Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
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The Mail claim Newcastle could turn their attention to Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak after a deal for Hugo Ekitike is now ‘all but dead’ due to the Frenchman’s ridiculous wage demands. Isak is rated at £40million.

Sweden international Isak, 22, joined Sociedad as a teenager in 2019 and has since gone on to play 128 times in three seasons. He has scored 45 goals, netting 16 in 2019-20 and then 17 in 2020-21. 10 came last season.

Despite a small drop off in form, Premier League clubs remain interested – despite his £40million price tag. Tottenham are among his admirers, a player his Sweden teammate Dejan Kulusevski said is “good at everything” and “fast”.

Now, Newcastle have joined the race. A £25million deal was agreed for Ekitike but his agent was requesting too much – forcing Newcastle to find a new striker. Isak is ‘on their radar’ but his £40million price tag could be too expensive.

Newcastle could turn attention to Isak

Isak would be a wonderful signing. A much better striker than Ekitike, Isak is already incredibly experienced at 22 – with 188 club appearances under his belt, and 37 caps for Sweden. £40million is decent value.

Whether Newcastle are willing to pay such a figure to sign a striker when they already have Chris Wood and Callum Wilson remains to be seen. It might be that Newcastle need to agree a compromise with Sociedad.

But Isak would certainly be an improvement on what the Toon have – even ahead of Wilson. A potential bargain, if the Toon are willing to put their hand in their pocket after spending north of £30million on Sven Botman.

newcastle Alexander Isak
Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images