Latest news with #Isak
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
No one can afford to buy Alexander Isak, says ex-Newcastle player John Anderson
That is the view of former Magpies defender John Anderson amid frenzied speculation over the Sweden international's future on Tyneside following his absence from the club's first pre-season friendly at Celtic on Saturday. The 25-year-old striker hit the headlines once again last week when Premier League champions Liverpool indicated they would be prepared to offer £120million – around £30m shy of Newcastle's hands-off valuation – for him should he become available. However, Anderson told the PA news agency: 'Once you've got good players and you've got very, very good players, they're always going to be linked with other teams. That's always been the nature of the game and that's never, ever going to go away. 'I just don't think anybody at this moment in time can afford Isak and that's the truth of it. 'There's a lot of speculation about whether he's going to sign a new contract and have the club offered him a new contract – I don't think the boy is in any hurry to sign a new contract because he's got three years left on his present deal. 'Why would he be?' Head coach Eddie Howe revealed after the 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park that Isak had been sent home from Glasgow after a pre-season training camp in Austria because he was never going to play any part in the game as he manages his return from a groin injury. Howe did not want him sitting in the stands as the rumours gathered pace, despite his club's insistence that he is simply not for sale. Anderson said: 'It's a high-profile game, the champions of Scotland against a side that's qualified for the Champions League, but I think all the speculation would have been about Isak sitting in the stand rather than being focused on the game.' The former Republic of Ireland defender, who now covers the Magpies' games as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Newcastle, has witnessed Isak's meteoric rise since his £63m arrival from Real Sociedad during the summer of 2022 and knows how vital his retention is. He said: 'Oh God, he's huge. It's okay getting whatever you get for him, but how do you replace a player like that? That's the bottom line. 'You've got all the money in the world, yes, but can you get a player in who can do what he does?' Anderson played alongside Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley at St James' Park and watched Alan Shearer scored a record 206 goals for the club and he believes Isak is a special talent. He said: 'Shearer was a great out-and-out goalscorer, but this boy has got everything. Not only does he score goals, but he creates goals, he makes space for other people, he frightens the life out of defenders with his movement. 'And at the age that he's at, he's still got his prime years ahead of him. He's only going to get better.'
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
No one can afford to buy Alexander Isak, says ex-Newcastle player John Anderson
That is the view of former Magpies defender John Anderson amid frenzied speculation over the Sweden international's future on Tyneside following his absence from the club's first pre-season friendly at Celtic on Saturday. The 25-year-old striker hit the headlines once again last week when Premier League champions Liverpool indicated they would be prepared to offer £120million – around £30m shy of Newcastle's hands-off valuation – for him should he become available. However, Anderson told the PA news agency: 'Once you've got good players and you've got very, very good players, they're always going to be linked with other teams. That's always been the nature of the game and that's never, ever going to go away. 'I just don't think anybody at this moment in time can afford Isak and that's the truth of it. 'There's a lot of speculation about whether he's going to sign a new contract and have the club offered him a new contract – I don't think the boy is in any hurry to sign a new contract because he's got three years left on his present deal. 'Why would he be?' Head coach Eddie Howe revealed after the 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park that Isak had been sent home from Glasgow after a pre-season training camp in Austria because he was never going to play any part in the game as he manages his return from a groin injury. Howe did not want him sitting in the stands as the rumours gathered pace, despite his club's insistence that he is simply not for sale. Anderson said: 'It's a high-profile game, the champions of Scotland against a side that's qualified for the Champions League, but I think all the speculation would have been about Isak sitting in the stand rather than being focused on the game.' The former Republic of Ireland defender, who now covers the Magpies' games as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Newcastle, has witnessed Isak's meteoric rise since his £63m arrival from Real Sociedad during the summer of 2022 and knows how vital his retention is. He said: 'Oh God, he's huge. It's okay getting whatever you get for him, but how do you replace a player like that? That's the bottom line. 'You've got all the money in the world, yes, but can you get a player in who can do what he does?' Anderson played alongside Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley at St James' Park and watched Alan Shearer scored a record 206 goals for the club and he believes Isak is a special talent. He said: 'Shearer was a great out-and-out goalscorer, but this boy has got everything. Not only does he score goals, but he creates goals, he makes space for other people, he frightens the life out of defenders with his movement. 'And at the age that he's at, he's still got his prime years ahead of him. He's only going to get better.'
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alexander Isak knows what Viktor Gyokeres thinks about him amid Liverpool transfer saga
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.
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
No one can afford to buy Alexander Isak, says ex-Newcastle player John Anderson
That is the view of former Magpies defender John Anderson amid frenzied speculation over the Sweden international's future on Tyneside following his absence from the club's first pre-season friendly at Celtic on Saturday. The 25-year-old striker hit the headlines once again last week when Premier League champions Liverpool indicated they would be prepared to offer £120million – around £30m shy of Newcastle's hands-off valuation – for him should he become available. However, Anderson told the PA news agency: 'Once you've got good players and you've got very, very good players, they're always going to be linked with other teams. That's always been the nature of the game and that's never, ever going to go away. 'I just don't think anybody at this moment in time can afford Isak and that's the truth of it. 'There's a lot of speculation about whether he's going to sign a new contract and have the club offered him a new contract – I don't think the boy is in any hurry to sign a new contract because he's got three years left on his present deal. 'Why would he be?' Head coach Eddie Howe revealed after the 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park that Isak had been sent home from Glasgow after a pre-season training camp in Austria because he was never going to play any part in the game as he manages his return from a groin injury. Howe did not want him sitting in the stands as the rumours gathered pace, despite his club's insistence that he is simply not for sale. Anderson said: 'It's a high-profile game, the champions of Scotland against a side that's qualified for the Champions League, but I think all the speculation would have been about Isak sitting in the stand rather than being focused on the game.' The former Republic of Ireland defender, who now covers the Magpies' games as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Newcastle, has witnessed Isak's meteoric rise since his £63m arrival from Real Sociedad during the summer of 2022 and knows how vital his retention is. He said: 'Oh God, he's huge. It's okay getting whatever you get for him, but how do you replace a player like that? That's the bottom line. 'You've got all the money in the world, yes, but can you get a player in who can do what he does?' Anderson played alongside Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley at St James' Park and watched Alan Shearer scored a record 206 goals for the club and he believes Isak is a special talent. He said: 'Shearer was a great out-and-out goalscorer, but this boy has got everything. Not only does he score goals, but he creates goals, he makes space for other people, he frightens the life out of defenders with his movement. 'And at the age that he's at, he's still got his prime years ahead of him. He's only going to get better.'
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
No one can afford to buy Alexander Isak, says ex-Newcastle player John Anderson
That is the view of former Magpies defender John Anderson amid frenzied speculation over the Sweden international's future on Tyneside following his absence from the club's first pre-season friendly at Celtic on Saturday. The 25-year-old striker hit the headlines once again last week when Premier League champions Liverpool indicated they would be prepared to offer £120million – around £30m shy of Newcastle's hands-off valuation – for him should he become available. However, Anderson told the PA news agency: 'Once you've got good players and you've got very, very good players, they're always going to be linked with other teams. That's always been the nature of the game and that's never, ever going to go away. 'I just don't think anybody at this moment in time can afford Isak and that's the truth of it. 'There's a lot of speculation about whether he's going to sign a new contract and have the club offered him a new contract – I don't think the boy is in any hurry to sign a new contract because he's got three years left on his present deal. 'Why would he be?' Head coach Eddie Howe revealed after the 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park that Isak had been sent home from Glasgow after a pre-season training camp in Austria because he was never going to play any part in the game as he manages his return from a groin injury. Howe did not want him sitting in the stands as the rumours gathered pace, despite his club's insistence that he is simply not for sale. Anderson said: 'It's a high-profile game, the champions of Scotland against a side that's qualified for the Champions League, but I think all the speculation would have been about Isak sitting in the stand rather than being focused on the game.' The former Republic of Ireland defender, who now covers the Magpies' games as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Newcastle, has witnessed Isak's meteoric rise since his £63m arrival from Real Sociedad during the summer of 2022 and knows how vital his retention is. He said: 'Oh God, he's huge. It's okay getting whatever you get for him, but how do you replace a player like that? That's the bottom line. 'You've got all the money in the world, yes, but can you get a player in who can do what he does?' Anderson played alongside Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley at St James' Park and watched Alan Shearer scored a record 206 goals for the club and he believes Isak is a special talent. He said: 'Shearer was a great out-and-out goalscorer, but this boy has got everything. Not only does he score goals, but he creates goals, he makes space for other people, he frightens the life out of defenders with his movement. 'And at the age that he's at, he's still got his prime years ahead of him. He's only going to get better.'
