Ornstein confirms Newcastle agree €70m deal for Isak as Real Sociedad accept first bid

Newcastle have agreed a €70m (£59m) deal with Real Soeciedad for Alexander Isak.

The 22-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in January, who were again thought to be interested this summer before they moved for Gabriel Jesus.

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Spanish outlet Diario Vasco (via Sport Witness) claim Newcastle have been on Isak’s trail ‘all summer’ but have only now made a formal bid to Real Sociedad, which was immediately accepted as they now look for a replacement.

The La Liga side are also expected to receive a potential €5m in performance-related bonuses and 10 per cent of the profits of a future sale. It’s been described by reports in Spain as an offer Real Sociedad simply could not turn down.

News of Newcastle’s successful bid has been confirmed by David Ornstein of The Athletic, who says Isak is indeed ‘on course for a move to St James’ Park’ with the ‘reports in Spain accurate’.

Having joined Real Sociedad for €15m from Borussia Dortmund, the striker has scored 44 goals and contributed eight assists in 132 appearances, and has also asserted himself as a key player for Sweden.

Assuming personal terms are agreed and the medical is passed, the transfer for Isak would smash the current record at Newcastle, which stands at around £40m, which they paid Hoffenheim for Joelinton in 2019.

Isak will become Newcastle’s fourth senior signing of the summer after moves for Matt Targett, Nick Pope and Sven Botman.

It could end their supposed interest in Martin Terrier, whom they reportedly made a £25m bid for.

Terrier, who joined Rennes from Lyon for £10.8m in the summer of 2020, can play either on the left win or as a central striker and scored 21 Ligue 1 goals last season.

That form has led him to be linked with a number of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and West Ham, but the 25-year-old’s comments in the wake of Rennes’ 2-1 win against Ajaccio on Sunday – in which Terrier got off the mark this season – could (and perhaps should) have put speculation over his future to bed.

Asked if he will still be a Rennes player beyond 1st September, he responded: “It’s certain, I feel good here, I grew a lot here last year. The club is ambitious and the fans are fantastic so I feel good here and I’m blossoming.”

Terrier also once again stated his desire to go to the World Cup in Qatar with France, despite as yet not making an appearance for the senior side.

He added: “I still have a lot of work to do. In my position, there is a lot of competition, lots of big players, but I’ve matured and grown in experience and I’m going to do everything to continue.”

Anyway, we probably don’t have to worry about whether Newcastle were barking up the wrong tree with Terrier or not, as it looks as though Isak will be the one to lead their line this season.