Alan Shearer has spoken on his podcast with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards about the potential of Newcastle United selling Alexander Isak this summer.
Newcastle United have had a rollercoaster season as they returned to the Champions League and have continued to challenge for European qualification spots in the Premier League.
The squad has been plagued with non-stop injury issues throughout the campaign, but they have refused to allow it to dampen their spirits as they have approached their last few fixtures with the passion and fight we witnessed throughout last season.
Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the resilience that his team has shown in the face of adversity and will be hoping that the collective positive attitude in the squad will reward them with a spot in either the Europa League or Conference League next season.
Although the results haven’t always gone in favour of the Tynesiders, some of the individual brilliance in the team has been undeniably for onlookers, with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon two of the standout performers who have been widely recognised for their contributions in the attacking third.
Gordon, who joined Newcastle from relegation-battling Everton, has flourished under the guidance of Howe and has since been rewarded with his first senior call-up to the England squad, while Isak has continued to be a force of nature in front of goal with a finish that never misses attracting the attention of ‘Big Six’ clubs.
The Swedish is considered to be one of Arsenal’s main targets for the summer, and now club legend Alan Shearer has spoken out on The Rest Is Football podcast urging Newcastle not to give in to temptation should a club come in with a huge offer:
“He’s very, very good. He’s a modern-day forward.” Shearer said. “He’s a brilliant example of that. Had one or two injuries this season, but whilst he’s been on the pitch he’s been absolutely magnificent. He’s brilliant at running in behind – he’s so quick and once he’s away you aren’t catching him.
“He’s also so clever at coming short and dragging defenders in with him, therefore leaving space in behind. He’s a very clever, intelligent player and he’s got great ability. They are sat on a great asset. It’d be absolutely bonkers if Newcastle, foe whatever reason, sold him in the summer.”
“He’s worth an absolute fortune and it would be bonkers if Newcastle sold him this summer. It’s really, really difficult to get goal scorers and he is one of the best. They love him and rightly so. The fans adore him.”
Should Newcastle cash in on Isak?
There is no doubt that, in hindsight, Isak’s £63m transfer fee was worth every single penny and more when the club signed him two years ago as he has been a revelation on the pitch.
Finding a number nine as clinical as the Swede is virtually impossible in the current market, with no other player in the Premier League offering a better shot accuracy (68%), whilst only trailing two goals behind Erling Haaland for the golden boot this season.
As a result, it would be absolutely insane for Newcastle to cash in on the 24-year-old star this summer, as he is the master key to unlocking more European football and, hopefully, trophies being collected at St James’ Park.
