Calling all #NUFC fans ⚫️⚪️
Want to know more about imminent club record signing Alexander Isak?
Luckily, we've been watching him for years.
His strengths, his weaknesses, the highs and the lows, stats, analysis and our verdict, all in one handy thread 🔽🧵
#LLL
🧡🇪🇸⚽️
Born in Stockholm to Eritrean parents, Isak is a 22-year-old Swedish international striker, with 37 caps and 9 goals to his name 🇪🇷🇸🇪
At six-foot-five, he possesses a surprising turn of pace for such a tall player, and is an excellent dribbler 🔽
Before arriving in Spain, the striker broke into professional football at AIK, before joining Borussia Dortmund 🟡⚫️
In 2019, he was loaned to Willem II, where he scored 14 and assisted 7 in 18 games 🤯
That tempted La Real to splash the cash - reportedly £13.5 million 💰
Despite a relatively slow start to life in LaLiga, Isak exploded onto the scene in the Copa Del Rey.
With seven goals and two assists in just over six cup 90s, he and Martin Ødegaard tore Real Madrid to shreds at the Bernabeu in the quarter-finals 🔥
The devastating combination of technical brilliance and quick feet, with a tall, slender figure, means that Isak slaloms between challenges for fun ⛷️
Last season's stats demonstrate his ability to skip past players, drive his team up the pitch and create chances.
🎨@Jorge_ltg_
Such a unique skillset, along with his fearlessness on the ball - Isak is no stranger to a spectacular goal 🚀
From a back-heeled volley at Levante, a right-footed rocket at Leganés, and this against Villarreal, the Swede can win games all by himself 🪄
Further, Isak's ability to use both feet makes him an incredibly dangerous player in and around the area 🎯
Able to generate fantastic power on both sides, he is unpredictable on the ball, and very adept at powering home snap-shots and loose balls from close range.
So, while the ability is clearly there, goalscoring consistency is a key area of improvement.
While Isak will never ‘go missing’ in a game, due to his desire to receive the ball and run at defenders, he is very much a form player in front of goal.
Patience may be required ⏳
Last season, he netted six goals in 23.8 90s, and underperformed his xG by five. Half of that tally came within the space of a week.
In 2020/21, nine of his 17 goals came in a six game spree.
Goal droughts and goal gluts in equal measure 😬
Nonetheless, still just 22 years old, his ceiling is sky-high 📈
As his striking instincts sharpen and his movement improves, close-range finishing will not be an issue.
His unstoppable dribbling and eye for the spectacular will surely make him a Premier League hit 🌟
So take care of him, Newcastle fans. LaLiga is very sad to see Alexander Isak go 😢
It's a massive move to a massive club at such a young age, so give him time.
We're convinced that soon, he'll be one of the world's best 🌟
#LLL
🧡🇪🇸⚽️
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