Transfer market
Why does FC Barcelona want to sign Alexander Isak?
The Swedish striker is one of the most popular players in Europe due to his great performance with Newcastle. His great height (1'92), his goal-scoring ability and his ability to play together make him very interesting and Barça are keeping a close eye on him
FC Barcelona have been casting for a centre forward for some time now. Lewandowski is in very good form and continues to score many goals, but he is 36 years old and his career will not last long. Although there is an agreement with the Pole for the extension of his contract, it would only be increased by one more year. In the meantime, the technical secretariat of the Blaugrana is looking for possible candidates to fill this position. The economic situation is not buoyant, despite having reached the 1-1 rule, so it is important to make decisions cautiously.
According to José Álvarez recently reported on 'El Chiringuito de Jugones', the main objective for the summer transfer market is Alexander Isak. The journalist says that there have already been contacts with the striker and that the sensations are positive. He is seen as the icing on the cake for the Barça squad and "he enamors the sporting management, Laporta and his board," says the Valencian. So, among the candidates surveyed, there is a favourite to reinforce the attack, although he has a contract until 2028 with Newcastle and it will not be easy to sign him.
Why Alexander Isak?
At 25 years old, 26 in September, Isak has played for several important teams. He trained in the lower categories of the Swedish AIK, until Borussia Dortmund took him in 2017 for 8.6 million euros. He spent 2 seasons in Germany, during which he went on loan for 6 months to the Dutch Willem II, but he did not gel. He ended up being taken by Real Sociedad for 15 'million' in July 2019. In San Sebastian he showed that, when he is plugged in, he is a very interesting footballer. Despite being somewhat irregular, he ended up playing 132 games, in which he scored 43 goals and gave 8 assists.
In the summer market of 2022, Newcastle United decided to break the piggy bank. He paid 70 million euros in fixed terms plus 5 in variables and 10% of a future sale to the San Sebastian team for his striker. In addition, the operation was carried out in a matter of 48 hours. At the time, this transfer, the most expensive sale in the history of Real Sociedad, seemed risky, but time has proven the 'magpies' right. This is the third season wearing the black and white shirt and he has already surpassed the figures he achieved under the command of Imanol Alguacil: 54 goals and 9 assists in 95 games.
Several important characteristics can be extracted from his career: he knows LaLiga, has experience in the Champions League and knows what it is like to be the offensive reference for his teams. However, these are not the only data that could impress the Barça technical secretariat. He is a footballer with great associative ability, something that he complements with his intelligent runs. His height (1.92 meters) may make you think that he is a fixed striker, but nothing could be further from the truth. He is very mobile: he drops down to receive the ball, drops to the wings and creates space for his teammates. He also has a very powerful ball handling ability when it comes to breaking lines with his long and fast stride.
He is a footballer who can score, but he has to work for it. This season, in the Premier League, he has needed an average of 3.76 shots to score a goal. He has scored 17 goals in 22 matches in the domestic competition, which generates an average of 106 minutes per goal. Betting on the Swede is betting on a player who contributes a lot to the game, but he is not the typical winner of duels, as he has triumphed in 35% of the ones he has played. In fact, despite his size, he only manages to win in 34% of aerial disputes.
Is his arrival at Barça feasible?
In conclusion, he is a fast, agile and hard-working forward, with or without the ball in his possession. His associative ability is high, with 76% passing success and 1.6 key passes per game, and he is skilled at dribbling (47% completed). This is very positive, as these are characteristics that add to Barça's style of play and, after his time at Real Sociedad, he knows what it is like to be in a team that prioritises ball handling. He is also intelligent and creates chances with his runs, although he is not a physical player or the most goal-scoring option on the market.
He knows LaLiga and should adapt perfectly to the requirements of a '9' at FC Barcelona. However, he has a contract until 2028 with Newcastle United and it seems difficult for them to let him go if he does not put pressure on him to leave. It is important to remember that the 'Magpies' paid more than 70 million euros for his arrival and they surely want to get a financial return on him. Deco will have to do a good job regarding the exits in order to have the necessary financial muscle to be able to face this operation.
