Alexander Isak is blocking out the “noise” around him and looking “second to none” at Newcastle United’s Austrian training camp.
That is the verdict of Isak’s compatriot and new club teammate Anthony Elanga, who believes speculation swirling around the future intentions of the striker is inevitable given he is one of the best players in the world.
To recap: Isak has been at the centre of a week of frenzied transfer intrigue that began on Tuesday when news leaked of Liverpool showing interest in what would be a British record £120m deal for Newcastle’s elite forward.
That testing of the water followed the Magpies placing a bid for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, which was knocked back.
After intransigence from Newcastle on Isak, Liverpool then accelerated their own interest in Ekitike – who now looks set for a move to Anfield.
Elanga flew with the Newcastle squad to Austria (Photo: Getty)Running parallel to all of that speculation was the insinuation that Isak would be open to Liverpool’s overtures, a suggestion that prompted pangs of anxiety on Tyneside.
So – as the first voice to speak from the Newcastle camp this summer – could Elanga share any insight into Isak’s frame of mind in Austria?
“For me, whenever I speak to Alex it’s always about good things,” he says, looking relaxed over a Zoom call from Newcastle’s picturesque training base among the Austrian Alps.
Conversations between the pair, Elanga says, have mostly been about their respective families, who have got to know each other during international breaks.
“Alex, being one of the best attackers in the world, I think there’s always going to be noise around him, but he’s the type of player who is always staying focused,” he says.
“What he’s shown in training is second to none and I’m looking forward to continuing training with him.
“Not just him, of course, but also Anthony Gordon, who I’m also close with. He’s helped me a lot settling in.”
Elanga says Isak is blocking out the ‘noise’ amid transfer rumours (Photo: Getty)If his first media engagement is anything to go by, Elanga will fit right in at Newcastle.
He handled the inevitable Isak questions impeccably.
In response to the £120m question – whether he thinks Isak will stay – he says: “For me, he’s one of the best players in the world, one of the best attackers in the world.
“I’ve played with him at international level so I can say so.
“There’s always going to be noise around him but, at the end of the day, he’s a Newcastle United player right now.”
Excited at working with Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe singled out Elanga as a top target for his pace, workrate and ability to dovetail to devastating effect from the right as part of a front three.
But he also got rave reviews on Elanga’s attitude and professionalism.
You got a sense of that when he spoke about how he had settled into the group.
As well as praise for Howe’s meticulousness, Elanga also namechecked new set-piece coach Martin Mark – who has been added to the backroom staff in recent weeks – and spoke of a culture where the players train “as if they are playing a cup final every day”.
He added: “I want to take my game to a whole new level, which I think I can, especially with the gaffer and the players here. They are going to make me even better.”
Eddie Howe pushed hard to sign the Sweden international (Photo: Getty)Earlier this week Elanga sang Ben E King’s Stand By Me at his initiation, complete with backing guitar.
It was the first new introduction to Newcastle’s group for over a year – in reality the first major signing since 2023.
Elanga jokes that he took it to “another level” with his singing, which is something he will be expected to help Newcastle do on the pitch in the coming months.
The Sweden international joins a group at a crossroads.
Having won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League next season, they need upgrades in the transfer market to move to the next level but Elanga was sold an ambitious vision by Newcastle’s power brokers.
Walking through the training ground after signing, he was impressed by the pictures on the walls of the post-Carabao Cup celebrations.
“It gave me that fuel to really show that I really want to be here and really want to win games,” he says.
“I want to create an amazing history. I want to have memories that stay in my heart forever.
“Coming here, in a week, honestly, I really sense that it’s going to be amazing. I really want to be part of this team and make a good history.”
Your next read
square FOOTBALLThe court case that spells bad news for Crystal Palace
square FOOTBALL#NoToMadueke: Why Arsenal fans are in open revolt
square FOOTBALLWho England could play in semi-finals at Euro 2025
square FOOTBALLMan Utd eye Jackson swap deal with Chelsea in bid to offload Garnacho
Where can that take them? Could Newcastle challenge or actually win the title during the span of his five year contract?
“I think anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” he says.
“We have to take it game by game and see where it takes us.
“But I think with the mentality we have as a group and a city and a team, anything is possible.”
Hence then, the article about alexander isak staying focused at newcastle despite liverpool interest was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Alexander Isak ‘staying focused’ at Newcastle despite Liverpool interest )
Also on site :
- Disgraced former Centinela Valley schools Superintendent Jose Fernandez dies
- Outsiders see a circular economy. CoreWeave’s CEO sees a ‘violent change’ rattling the supply chain down to the inside of the earth
- Tyler Perry Sued for Sexual Assault By New Accuser, an Actor in a ‘Madea’ Movie