Newcastle United are now interested in making Real Sociedad star Alexander Isak the 69th Swedish ace to play in the Premier League to date, but boss Eddie Howe could struggle to afford the striker.
The Toon have turned attentions to Isak in their quest to hand Howe a new centre-forward to rival Callum Wilson and Chris Wood. Club chiefs are losing patience in their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike after struggling to convince the 20-year-old to move to Tyneside to strengthen a goal-shy attacking unit.
Newcastle only produced the 12th-best offence in the Premier League last season, having amassed just 44 goals from 38 games. Wilson also accounted for eight of the Magpies’ return, ahead of Allan Saint-Maximin and Bruno Guimaraes with five each. Wood only hit two, with just one in open play.
Newcastle are interested in Real Sociedad star Isak as hopes for Reims gem Ekitike all but over
Now, the Daily Mail report Newcastle are showing an interest in signing Isak from Real Sociedad as hopes of landing Ekitike are all but over. The Magpies believe his agent is demanding a ‘ridiculous’ fee to broker the 20-year-old’s move, after the Toon agreed a £25m package with Stade de Reims.
Howe has several alternatives on his radar including Chelsea’s Armando Broja after his strong term on loan with Southampton. Sassuolo star Gianluca Scamacca also has admirers at St James’ Park, but Get French Football News report Paris Saint-Germain now have an agreement over personal terms.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin also has fans at Newcastle, but Everton are likely to price the England striker out of United’s reaches. So, interest in Isak is rising among Toon decision-makers, yet Real Sociedad value the forward at £40m; which could prove restrictive to whatever move Newcastle would make.
Isak has forced his name onto Howe’s radar after striking 10 goals and laying on three assists over 39 games in all competitions last season. The 37-cap international – who boasts nine goals for Sweden – achieved his haul with three in the Europa League, including against PSV Eindhoven and AS Monaco.
Financial Fair Play limitations are capping what United can spend this summer in the club’s second window following the £305m Saudi-backed takeover. The Telegraph cite a total budget of £80m to £100m, with £12m already spent on Matt Targett, £12m on Nick Pope and £35m on Sven Botman.
Player sales will help increase Howe’s budget, but moving on the deadwood has proven problematic for the Magpies so far. Should that change, Isak will hope to follow in these former Swedish stars to grace the Premier League if Newcastle step up their interest in the 22-year-old’s summer transfer…
Larsson can inspire Isak amid Newcastle interest with most Premier League apps by Swedish stars
Sebastian Larsson boasts the most Premier League appearances by a Swedish player to inspire Isak amid Newcastle’s interest this summer. The midfielder amassed 282 games between spells at three clubs with three outings for Arsenal, 103 games for Birmingham City and 176 games for Sunderland.
He additionally provided 26 goals and 28 assists between his spells in the English top-flight – enough to rank second for both. Larsson offered his best return in front of the net in 2011/12 when the 133-cap star hit seven for Sunderland, and penned his most assists during 2010/11 with six for Birmingham.
Larsson was also a renowned free-kick specialist during his Premier League career with 11 goals from direct set-pieces. Those efforts also included three match-winning goals to beat Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic with Birmingham, and also edge Blackburn Rovers during his Sunderland career.
Ljungberg boasts most Premier League goals and assists to inspire Isak amid Newcastle interest
Freddie Ljungberg sits second on the all-time Premier League appearance list by Swedish players so far with 241. The right-midfielder also boasts the most goals and assists by Swedish players, having amassed 48 strikes and created a further 35 between spells in England with Arsenal and West Ham.
The 75-cap international made 216 of his outings for the Gunners between 1998 and 2007, when he switched north for east London. Ljungberg also moved to the Irons with two Premier League medals, plus three FA Cup honours and a runners-up medal from the 2005/06 Champions League campaign.
Arsenal fans witnessed Ljungberg record 46 of his Premier League goals and 31 of his assists after he arrived in England from Halmstads. His influence at Highbury would regress towards the end before switching to West Ham in a deal worth £3m for just a season, 25 games, two goals and four assists.
Mellberg made most Premier League outings for one club during defender’s Aston Villa career
Olof Mellberg made the most Premier League appearances by a Swedish player for one club over his time at Aston Villa. The centre-half featured in 232 top-flight games for the Villans from 2001 to 2008, in which he started 231 of his potential 232 fixtures, whilst also providing eight goals and two assists.
Aston Villa offered Mellberg his first chance to play in England after agreeing a £5m fee with Racing Santander. Isak could now draw inspiration from his 117-cap compatriot, should Newcastle step up any interest in the Real Sociedad forward also moving from La Liga to the Premier League this year.
Olsson spent nine years at West Brom after moving to England with the Baggies in 2008
Jonas Olsson spent nine years at West Brom after moving to England with the Baggies in 2008 from Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen. He would eventually leave The Hawthorns to return to Sweden in 2017 at Djurgarden, but made a brief return to England with Wigan in 2019 before hanging up his boots.
The centre-half only played in the Premier League for West Brom during his lengthy stay in the West Midlands. He amassed 201 top-flight outings for the club, while offering eight goals and eight assists, and also helped the Baggies to clinch promotion out of the Championship as runners-up in 2009/10.
Blackburn took an early punt on would-be Norwich and Swansea star Olsson
Blackburn took an early punt on Martin Olsson in 2006 by prising the left-back from Hogaborg’s U19 side. He would go on to make his senior Rovers debut a year later, and went on to amass 142 outings at Ewood Park – the most with one club in his career so far – including in 88 Premier League games.
Norwich City would take a punt on Olsson next, signing him from Blackburn for £2.5m in 2013 under Chris Hughton. The 55-cap dynamo would feature 129 times at Carrow Road, including in 58 Premier League games, before joining Swansea City for £4m in 2016 and making 51 further top-flight outings.
Lindelof has the most Premier League games by Swedish players currently in the division
Victor Lindelof has made the most Premier League appearances by Swedish players currently plying their trade in the English top-flight. The centre-half has so far featured 139 times in the division with Manchester United, who signed him from Benfica in 2017 for an initial £30.5m plus £9m in add-ons.
Jose Mourinho offered the 52-cap defender his chance to move to England, but only awarded him 30 top-flight outings over the following 18 months. Lindelof enjoyed his most fixtures in a single season to date in 2019/20 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with 35 – only his second campaign with 30 or more.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
