Newcastle United are in talks to sign Alexander Isak.

The Telegraph says their information is that ‘the Newcastle United hierarchy have unanimously agreed’ that the Swedish striker was an ‘ideal’ signing and the question now is whether Eddie Howe and the owners of NUFC are ready to commit the rest of this summer. 2022 transfer budget to land the player from Real Sociedad.

Signed at 19 for £5million from Borussia Dortmund in 2019, Alexander Isak helped the Spanish club move from 12th and 9th to 6th, 5th and 6th in his three seasons in La Liga.

His first season (2019//20) in Spain saw nine goals in 14 La Liga starts (plus 23 sub appearances), then 17 goals in 30 league starts (four appearances as a substitute) in 2020/21 , then six goals in La Liga. in 26 starts (plus six sub-appearances).

Not as good as a season just gone, but a very promising young attacking player who can play on the front line, in the middle or on either side.

Making his senior Sweden debut aged just 17, Alexander Isak has already made 39 appearances and scored 10 goals for his country.

The Telegraph claims any successful offer would be a new club record, topping the £41.65m (£35m guaranteed and £6.65m extra) Newcastle United accepted for Bruno Guimaraes in January.

If you commit the entire remaining budget to Alexander Isak, the report says that would mean only a loan deal would be possible for the other offensive signees that NUFC also hopes to complete.

A useful/possibly deciding factor, according to The Telegraph, is Real Sociedad’s flexibility in how the transfer fee is paid.

With a deal worth over £50million, the newspaper say if the La Liga club are willing to take half the transfer fee now and the other half in future payments, it could see Newcastle have more money and flexibility to do that. another offensive signing they would like to make.

When it comes to Alexander Isak’s profile, it’s easy to see how he would fit the profile Eddie Howe and the NUFC owners are looking for. Still only 22 but having already shown great ability and scored goals for Sweden and in a competitive European league.

The Hugo Ekitike deal looks dead in the water and although Alexander Isak is only two years older, he has shown three years of ability at a high level and his ability to score, hence the fee higher than Ekitike would have cost.

Talks have taken place between Newcastle United but as things stand no agreement is in place yet.

The Telegraph says Real Sociedad have told a number of clubs and agents they are willing to sell Alexander Isak in this window and they would take a huge profit on the £5million they paid there is just three years old, although Borussia Dortmund have no doubt included a clause that will see them collect some of the fees Newcastle may agree to pay.

There are still 51 transfer window days after today, but the Premier League season kicks off in just over three weeks.

Eddie Howe will be keen to land other new signings as quickly as possible, to allow them as much pre-season as possible with their new teammates.