Since Erling Haaland came to the Premier League, scored a Premier League record 36 goals and helped Manchester City to the treble, the traditional number nine has undoubtedly been back in fashion. Clubs are scrapping to find their very own Haaland, in an attempt to keep up with Pep Guardiola’s serial winners. Liverpool brought in €85 million striker Darwin Núñez. Manchester United swooped for a fellow Scandinavian frontman who they hope can blossom into something similar to Haaland in Danish 21-year-old Rasmus Højlund. And this summer there looks to be a real striker merry-go-round on the horizon.
Although we still wait on confirmation, it looks more than likely that PSG superstar Kylian Mbappé will leave the Parisians and sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer. And Arsenal and Chelsea are both rumoured to be in the market for a top No.9. Many names have been thrown around in these conversations. Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, who has been in red hot form in Portugal this season, Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko have all been touted with a big money move to the Premier League. However, for a club potentially in the market such as Arsenal or Chelsea, Newcastle’s silky striker Alexander Isak, recently described by manager Eddie Howe as having "limitless potential", may just be the wisest acquisition of them all.
Why Alexander Isak could be the best striker available this summer
Isak remains Newcastle’s record signing. Brought in for a fee of €70m from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2022, he was one of the first marquee transfers under the new Saudi Arabia backed ownership that made the North East club one of the richest in world football. It was a signing that represented risk, but for a player who looked to have a very high ceiling. Isak had shown a watching European audience a taste of his flair at Euro 2020, where he provided two assists for Sweden, but mainly caught the eye due to his brilliant mazy runs turning defenders inside out. The Swede scored just 44 goals in 132 games for Sociedad, but the Magpies fought off interest from Arsenal among other top European clubs for Isak's signature. After almost two years at the club, it’s fair to say (injuries aside) Isak is flourishing in the world’s most valuable league.
Last season Isak scored just 10 goals, but only made 22 appearances due to a persistent thigh injury. This campaign injuries have been an issue yet again for Isak, but he’s only missed six Premier League games through injury. And when he has been on the pitch, he’s been finding the back of the net. As can be seen below, this season, only Haaland (0.75) and Mohamed Salah (0.70) have a better goals per game ratio than Isak (0.68) in the division from players to have scored 10 or more Premier League goals. As we approach the business end of the season, he also seems to be hitting his peak form, with five goals in his last four matches since his latest injury. Eight in his last nine in total.
Nevertheless, with Newcastle ninth in the league table and in danger of falling on the wrong side of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability laws, could Isak be on the move this summer? And how does he compare to the other top strikers linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs at the end of the season? We have whittled the top strikers potentially available this summer to a five-man shortlist of Isak, Osimhen, Gyökeres, Toney, and Sesko. So who from those aforementioned names would be the best signing for a club like Arsenal or Chelsea? Isak could be the number one option.
As can be identified in the table above, when it comes to raw goals scored since Isak joined Newcastle (so since the start of last season), Gyökeres has the most goals with 43. However, 21 of those goals came in the Championship with Coventry and 25 of them in Liga Portugal with Sporting. Osimhen, who is second with 37 goals, has scored them all in one of Europe’s top five leagues with Napoli in Serie A, but has had a fall of this season, with just 11 league goals. That leaves Isak next up with 25 goals in 44 games, but most notably already a Premier League proven striker. The only other player from that list who has showcased his talent in the Premier League is Toney, but the Brentford striker is four years older than Isak and carries a lot more baggage. If you also take into account the vast injuries Newcastle have had this season, it means the service to him has been vastly reduced, making his numbers seem even better.
Could Isak actually leave Newcastle this summer?
There are lots of reasons to argue why the striker could be on the move. Isak is clearly loved at the club. Following his goal against Everton, manager Howe was effusive in praise: "For me, Alex has limitless potential. You’ve got someone who has had really good experiences in his career. He’s travelled as a young player and had some experience of different leagues. He’s come to us at a really good time of his career where we can help him, develop his talents and give him a platform to show how good he is." That last comment about giving Isak "a platform" could suggest there is an air of inevitability in the club that he will eventually move on from Newcastle.
Isak himself has also spoken in the aftermath of his recent good form, and emphasised his love for the North East club: "Of course I want to be here at Newcastle in the future. I absolutely love playing here, I really feel at home. I want to finish this season in a good way." Whilst he may love playing in front of the Toon Army, with a strong possibility of no European football and a formality of no Champions League football next season, Isak could well have his head turned this summer. And with Howe admitting the club may face challenges this summer around the Premier League's PSR rules, Isak could be a commodity the club are forced to parting ways with.
