The rise of Alexander Isak as one of Europe's best strikers

Isak has become one of the prominent strikers in Europe.

Alexander Isak is spearheading a revitalized Newcastle United, propelling the team into the Champions League qualification battle with nine Premier League goals since the start of December.

At St James’ Park, inconsistency and a faltering attack had raised concerns about the team’s future, but six straight victories across all competitions and a comeback to form for the 25-year-old Sweden striker have given Tyneside optimism.

Potential pressure has always been a problem for Isak. He became the youngest scorer in the history of the local team AIK’s league at the age of 16, and he soon became a highly sought-after talent around Europe. Soon after, he was compared to the great countryman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but they couldn’t have been more different.

Alexander Isak cannot stop scoring 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qQMwcw22wK

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 4, 2025

Isak was not as brazen and egotistical as Ibrahimovic. He was raised modestly and reservedly by his Eritrean parents in Stockholm, and he finally became the kind of player and person Newcastle wished to centre their project around.

He has frequently been compared to Arsenal great Thierry Henry because of his skill with the ball at his feet, his ability to move both centrally and out wide, and his signature ease.

How his playing career turned around

Alexander Isak came to Borussia Dortmund in 2017, which is a haven for future superstars, but he did not have the same success in Germany as Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham, and Erling Haaland. Although his coaches acknowledged his talent, the player’s shyness prevented him from making a name for himself.

But Isak’s career took a turn for the better once he met with Jan Siewert, the Dortmund reserves manager at the time. During their coffee, Siewert showed the teenage striker two photos side by side: one of him grinning after scoring for Sweden, and another of him sitting on the Dortmund substitutes’ bench. Siewart questioned Isak about the distinction: Self-assurance. Isak felt more at ease after he talked about how he didn’t have it.

Isak scored 17 goals in his second season after relocating to San Sebastian, and he also made an impression with Sweden at Euro 2020. Even though he didn’t score throughout the tournament, his performance against Slovakia in the group stage demonstrated why he was so highly sought after. He easily dribbled past players to lead his team to a 1-0 victory.

Alexander Isak cannot stop scoring at the moment! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/HZplJ8fDLA

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 4, 2025

Though he only scored six goals in 32 appearances in 2021–22, the rumours that he was not prepared to join a top club for the requested sum of over £60 million grew.

In August 2022, Newcastle broke their transfer record after initially rejecting a deal at that sum due to Callum Wilson’s injury.

How quickly has Isak become a household name at Newcastle?

The action gave Newcastle United’s transfer strategy a misleading storyline. It was alleged that they were fairly careless to sign Isak for that sum because of the affluence of their Saudi Arabian owners, something that no other team would do. However, that was never true. His potential had long been recognized within the club, and the deal had been carefully studied in the wake of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Another important component was Isak’s lack of ego. Although Newcastle’s management was careful to ensure that every new player fit in with the team’s values, the player’s introversion is undoubtedly no longer a factor in his output.

Although ailments have been a source of anger, as he struggled with a groin injury last season and missed five months of his debut season due to a thigh ailment, the club saw promise in him and have been well rewarded for it.

Although his first goal against Liverpool at Anfield was a preview of what was to come, he still scored ten goals that season as Newcastle earned a Champions League berth. Isak made history in 2023–24 by being the first Newcastle player to score 20 league goals in a single campaign since Alan Shearer twenty years prior.

This season got off to a rocky start for Newcastle United because they were not playing with the identity that manager Eddie Howe desired, failing to play through the midfield with energy and control of the ball. Isak appeared to be alone.

A change in strategy following Martin Odegaard’s move to Arsenal contributed to Alexander Isak’s late-game struggles at Real Sociedad; he was no longer making the same connection with the midfield as he had previously. Meanwhile, at Magpies Bruno Guimaraes has been climbing higher and Sandro Tonali has been playing a deeper role during this specific hot streak. More balance and control are presently giving Isak freedom to play in attack.

Newcastle United’s top scorers in the Premier League

Players	Goals	Appearances	Goals per match
Alan Shearer	148	303	0.49
Callum Wilson	47	99	0.47
Peter Beardsley	46	129	0.36
Alexander Isak	44	70	0.63
Shola Ameobi	43	295	0.15
Andrew Cole	43	58	0.74

Given that Alexander Isak has three and a half years left on his contract, Newcastle will be eager to keep him. Perhaps because of his resemblance to Henry, rumours of interest from Arsenal are justified. Nonetheless, the Gunners will need to pay a high price to acquire him. Few teams in a PSR world can afford to pay the required minimum of £150 million, externally.

Discussions over Anthony Gordon and Guimaraes’ £100 million release clause were held when Newcastle had to sell for PSR reasons last summer, but any notion of Isak departing was put down.

He is the team’s poster child and the guy they would never want to lose, and his distinct personality makes him nearly impossible to replace.

But maintaining him requires progress. He wants to play European football and win trophies. Luckily for Newcastle United, both are within reach thanks to Isak’s goals.

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