Newcastle United’s Club-Record Fee For Alexander Isak Shows Their Ambition And Strategy

This summer could see Premier League clubs spend more than ever before. At least nine clubs have spent more than $100 million in transfer fees, with more signings still to come before the end of the transfer window. But Newcastle United have been quieter than many pundits had expected.

After their takeover led by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund last year, many had predicted Newcastle United to be this summer’s biggest spenders.

Newcastle have made some signings, notably bringing in goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burnley and defender Sven Botman from Lille, not to mention the players they picked up last winter.

But now, with their signing of Alexander Isak, the club are starting to show their ambition.

Isak will cost Newcastle United a reported more than $70 million, smashing the club’s transfer record, and making him the most expensive player signed by a Premier League team outside the so-called “Big Six”.

The 22-year-old striker, who impressed for Sweden at Euro 2020, didn’t have the best of seasons for Real Sociedad in 2021/22, only netting six times in La Liga. But he has all the attributes of a modern striker, able to connect midfield with attack and function as a target man and a skillful ball carrier. His 17 goals in La Liga in 2020/21 show what he is capable of in the right team.

The fee Newcastle are willing to pay for Isak shows they believe he has the potential to be one of the best forwards in the Premier League.

After Newcastle’s takeover, their new owners have said they want the team to be competing right at the top end of the league. That’s easier said than done. Top players often don’t want to join teams outside the Champions League, and without the money from the Champions League and the commercial revenue boosts that come with it, financial fair play rules make it very hard to break into the elite group of teams competing for Champions League spots.

Newcastle still have plenty of room before financial fair play rules become a problem, with some estimates suggesting they could spend more than $700 million before FFP becomes a real issue.

But rather than blowing all their potential spending at once, they are keeping their powder dry for now.

Had they spent heavily on a new squad of players this summer and got it wrong, they could have found their spending restricted over the next few seasons. Everton fell into this trap, buying players that weren’t quite elite and ended up with a bloated squad of expensive players that weren’t much better than what they already had.

Eddie Howe worked magic with the Newcastle team he inherited last winter, scoring more points than all but the very top teams in the second half of the season. If he can keep up those results this season, then Newcastle would likely qualify for one of the European competitions next season.

The next jump up the league will require spending, but Newcastle are more likely to improve with one $80 million player who fits their squad perfectly and is Champions League quality than buy two $40 million players who don’t quite fit what Howe wants and are only slightly better than what they have already. Newcastle, as seen with their six-month long pursuit of Sven Botman, have a clear idea of the players they want to sign, and are willing to wait in order to sign them.

The problem for Newcastle is that the players needed to reach the top four don’t often join clubs outside the top four. Even Alexander Isak would have likely not been available had he been more prolific in front of goal last season.

That means, for now, Newcastle must be patient and wait for players of the required quality to become available.

And when they are available, Newcastle have shown with Isak that they are willing to spend big to get the players they want.