Alexander Isak passes Newcastle character test and the…

Alexander Isak passes Newcastle character test and the exciting added bonus of £58m transfer

Bringing in more firepower was Newcastle United's priority at the start of the window, but Eddie Howe stressed the club had to sign the 'right' player after a deal for Hugo Ekitike fell through. Well, Newcastle's patience looks to have paid off as the Magpies close in on a record-breaking £58m move for Real Sociedad star Alexander Isak in the final week of the window.

It is a statement signing in so many ways. Isak may not have had a vintage campaign last season, but only four players aged 23 and under have scored more goals in Europe's top seven leagues in the last four years than the Sweden international. Isak, in short, is the embodiment of a modern centre forward: a pressing machine off the ball; a technical finisher who can score goals from unlikely positions; and a quick player who is not afraid to run at defenders or come deep to link play.

Also, like Newcastle's other big-money boys, Isak is a player who can grow with the club at just 22 years of age as the Magpies bid to one day play in Europe and challenge the established order. That was the dream sold to Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman and there are similarities between those deals and this move for Isak.

Not only has the timing of the move come out of the blue, like the Bruno transfer in the final week of the mid-season window, but Newcastle have also persevered like they did with Botman earlier this year. Rather than walking away when a deal for Isak seemed unlikely last month, because of the costs involved, Newcastle kept the lines of communication open.

It is easy to see why. Newcastle were looking at a very small pool of players but finding the right deal that ticked three crucial boxes was proving difficult. Howe, obviously, sought a forward who would improve his side and a character who would not disrupt the dressing room, whether that was with his personality or salary demands, but Newcastle also wanted to strike the right deal financially as the club look to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations. Given how Richarlison commanded a similar fee, after leaving Everton for Spurs earlier this summer, £58m may not prove an extortionate fee in today's climate if it means the Magpies have secured not only a current star but also a player with his best years ahead of him.

Isak does not have Richarlison's Premier League experience, of course, and it will take the Sweden international a little time to adjust to the pace and physicality of the top-flight as well as the intensity of Howe's training sessions - even if he will be quickly called upon because of Callum Wilson's hamstring injury. However, off the field, Isak will have countryman Emil Krafth to help him settle in - ChronicleLive understands the pair even formerly shared the same agent - and the striker already speaks fluent English.

It is also worth noting that Isak, a calm figure who prefers to let his football do the talking, has vast experience of adapting to a number of different leagues over the years, which is a real bonus. Remarkably, despite being just 22, Isak has tested himself in La Liga (Spain), the Bundesliga (Germany), the Eredivisie (the Netherlands) and, of course, the Allsvenskan in his homeland.

That is not to say it has all been plain sailing, though. Isak made just 13 appearances at Dortmund, a case of the right player at the wrong time during a turbulent period where the Bundesliga giants had four coaches in little more than a year, but, tellingly, the Swede learned a lot from his time in Germany. So much so, rather than regretting that move, Isak felt it made him stronger.

Is it any wonder the humble Isak was just the sort of character and player Howe desperately wanted to work with?

Alexander Isak passes Newcastle character test and the exciting added bonus of £58m transfer

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