NEWCASTLE MOVED closer to the signing of Sweden striker Alexander Isak, who has travelled to England to complete a move from Real Sociedad.
With uncertainty surrounding the fitness of Callum Wilson, who has been sent for a scan on a hamstring problem which has been suggested will sideline him for at least a month, Newcastle look set to further strengthen their attacking options.
A picture shared widely on social media showed Isak, 22, arriving on Tyneside on Thursday afternoon, the player having flown in from Spain to put the final touches to a reported club-record £60 million (€71 million) transfer.
Manager Eddie Howe refused to be drawn on the growing rumours following the Carabao Cup win at Tranmere on Wednesday evening and the club have not responded for comment when contacted by the PA news agency on Thursday morning.
Speaking following the Tranmere game, Howe said: “It’s difficult to put a number on it, but at least one (more signing).
“We were looking at the attacking areas of the pitch, I don’t think that’s a huge secret. I won’t go into any more detail on that.”
Newcastle have already brought in goalkeeper Nick Pope and defenders Sven Botman and Matt Targett during the summer window.
Should the club’s latest deal be completed in time, Isak, who turns 23 in September, could be available to make his debut in Sunday’s Premier League match at Wolves.
Howe’s side are unbeaten so far in the new campaign, having played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against champions Manchester City at St James’ Park last weekend.
Making me feel old thinking of the €15m for Shearer
@mikeinclon: and bergkamp was only £7.5m the year before
@mikeinclon: Roy Keane British record at 3.5m.
This is only sustainable for a very select few clubs sone of which don’t even have the money and are offsetting club assests. Won’t be long before football’s we know it is dead and buried. It will be likes of the loi that will rise from the ashes.
@John Kelly: Jay’s Laurence Olivier wouldn’t be in it with ye. “And the oscar goes to….. “
@Stephen Foster: Haha :) honestly tho its gonna crash soon
@John Kelly: ah football “as we know it” ended 20 years ago with the beginning of the Premier League. Since then it’s gone from worse to worse in terms of wages and transfer fees but it started with the Premier league. I don’t know if it will collapse or anything like that. There are other sports with similar money floating around, Formula 1, and the 3 big sports in the USA. Golf is getting there too. What is more likely to happen eventually is a restructuring of the transfer system and perhaps a cap on wages and transfer fees. But it will keep going as long as the planet does.
Could be fantastic signing for them. He’s always been regarded as a future star for the last few years so it’ll be interesting to see if he can prove it. Big money and big pressure though.
I saw him play against Athletico last year in Madrid. He is good but not 71 mio good !
Money, no questions asked
It will be a pleasure watching all of the top teams and Newcastle and Man Who, slide down the table after the World Cup. Hopefully the heat exhaustion will last for a couple of years.