Newcastle's new £55m signing Anthony Elanga has insisted that Alexander Isak is “super-focused” in coaching however the winger sidestepped a collection of invites to foretell exactly how for much longer his Sweden teammate intends to stay a part of Eddie Howe's squad.
Elanga's arrival on Tyneside final week coincided with intense hypothesis that Liverpool have been readying a £130m bid for Isak. Though Newcastle have repeatedly reiterated that they're decided to maintain their prized centre-forward, and the Anfield board are in superior negotiations to signal the Eintracht Frankfurt ahead Hugo Ekitike, Isak's ideas on the longer term stay unknown.
“There's at all times going to be noise round a participant of Alex's stature,” mentioned Elanga as, enjoyable after a morning coaching session at Newcastle's camp in Austria, he spoke publicly for the primary time since becoming a member of from Nottingham Forest. “However he's at all times staying super-focused. He's among the best attackers on the earth however he's a Newcastle United participant proper now.”
When, earlier this week, Newcastle made a bid for Ekitike hypothesis intensified that Isak could possibly be heading for the St James' Park exit, however the membership maintained Howe's plan was to play the Swede alongside the France Underneath-21 worldwide. Now the membership are exploring, amongst different choices, a possible try to recruit Brentford's Yoane Wissa to alternate between partnering and understudying Isak.
But with Tottenham additionally eager on Wissa and a few members of Newcastle's hierarchy involved that, at 28, the Democratic Republic of the Congo striker would have restricted resale worth, any switch is a way from completion.
Isak is contracted to Newcastle till 2028 and has, up to now, indicated no nice enthusiasm for an prolonged deal, which makes it appear doubtless he'll search a transfer subsequent summer season on the newest.
“Each time I converse to Alex it's at all times about good issues,” mentioned Elanga, diplomatically. “About how my household is and the way his household is. I at all times try to give attention to the current. However that mentality Alex has proven in coaching is second to none and I'm trying ahead to persevering with to coach with him.
“For me, he's one of the best striker on the earth and a tremendous particular person as effectively that I can at all times depend on to go for recommendation. He's at all times there to assist me. I admire him quite a bit.
“Alex being right here is wonderful, so, in fact, he performed an element in me becoming a member of Newcastle however so did having Sandro [Tonali], Bruno [Guimarães], Joelinton and Anthony Gordon. All of them performed an enormous half in me coming right here. They've that profitable mentality.”
Elanga believes “something is feasible” because the Carabao Cup holders put together for a Champions League marketing campaign. “I wish to showcase my expertise,” the 23-year-old mentioned. “I'm pacey and direct. I can play on both facet, I can play as a striker. I can use each toes. I've acquired plenty of weapons.
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“I do know the gaffer and workers right here can take my sport to a different degree. What we wish to obtain, how we wish to play, it's excellent. What we're constructing right here is exclusive and particular. As quickly as I knew about Newcastle's curiosity it was a no brainer.”
Howe has lengthy been impressed by a participant who labored on his left foot throughout lockdown to change into two-footed. “I've acquired a saying the place I'm exact, not rushed,” mentioned the previous Manchester United winger. “It's a French saying, summary pas précipité, one thing I am going by quite a bit. In my life, I've by no means rushed something. The workers and gamers right here, all of them share comparable mentalities.”
Elanga believes this collective mindset will end in silverware subsequent spring. “With the gamers and workers right here and the addition of Martin Mark from Midtjylland as set-piece coach, we're actually heading in the right direction. I can actually sense that feeling of we actually wish to seize one thing and win one thing. Something's potential.”
