Alexander Isak knows what Viktor Gyokeres thinks about him amid Liverpool transfer saga

Daily Mirror

6 days ago

As Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak continue to be linked with moves away, the Arsenal target's thoughts on the Newcastle United ace have bobbed to the surface
Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak have the world and Europe's top clubs at their feet. However, Gyokeres insists his Swedish international team-mate has not changed, despite his sharp rise up the ranks in football, according to sources close to both players.
The pair have been high up the transfer bulletins, having been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, and Liverpool respectively. They are spearheading a new generation of Swedish superstars who may have previously been in the shadow of Zlatan Ibrahimovic for many years.
Yet, despite their stratospheric rises in football, neither player has developed an ego quite like the ex-United and Barcelona star. This was explained by Johnny Gustafsson, who was Isak's coach when he was an U16 and U17 player for Swedish side AIK Stockholm.
In an interview with the Guardian in March, Gustafsson claimed Isak's Sweden team-mates, which will include Gyokeres, believe he is the same humble and hungry player he always has been, despite his surge last season. Gustafsson said: "They also say he's exactly the same person. His success has not changed him at all.'
When asked about Isak's development as a person, Peter Wennberg, another coach and official at AIK, also added: "He never forgets. He's humble.
"At the end of his under-17 year he had to fill in an evaluation and made a point of thanking the kit managers. He always understood that people worked around him to support him.'
Isak is still widely revered at his childhood club, who are grateful that he has kept in touch with many who guided him during his journey. They also admit that Isak's initial years as a footballer did not scream that he was going to be a player that will be linked with Liverpool.
Gustafsson added: "A lot of people, maybe agents and individual coaches, will say: 'We knew he was going to be a top player, I saw him when he was 10 or 12.' But that's not true. We who were there, actually working at this club, can see.'
Isak's extra training sessions and inquisitive nature helped him become one of Europe's finest strikers. He had been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, who were reportedly willing to negotiate a British transfer record breaking sum of £120million to bring him to Anfield.
However, the Reds have since changed their focus to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, as the Magpies informed them that Isak would not be for sale. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe also left Isak out of a pre-season friendly loss to Celtic, citing the distracting presence of the frequent transfer speculation.
Meanwhile, Gyokeres is still waiting to see if he will be able to join Arsenal. The Sporting Lisbon striker has made it abundantly clear that he wants a move to the Emirates Stadium, even going on strike to try and force through a move.
The Gunners reached a deal in principle for Gyokeres, but are struggling to complete a full agreement.