Alexander Isak looks set to make a move to Liverpool after refusing to play for Newcastle United, though Alan Shearer will be surprised given they haven't signed another forward
Alan Shearer speaking on a podcast
Alan Shearer is surprised that Newcastle United have let Alexander Isak go without another recruit being signed
(Image: YouTube/The Rest Is Football)
With Alexander Isak's Newcastle United exit now imminent, Alan Shearer would have expected the Magpies to have signed another forward.
In a saga that's dominated the summer transfer window, Isak now finally looks set to leave St James' Park for Liverpool on deadline day in a package worth £130million. The Swedish striker downed tools this season after revealing he wanted to explore his options, and was subject to a £110m bid from Liverpool in August.
Now, after three years on Tyneside ending in a bitter feud, the striker has his medical booked. Attentions turn to signing replacements, and one has already been secured in Nick Woltemade, who arrived from Stuttgart last week for £69m.
The German scored 17 goals in all competitions last year before winning Player of the Tournament at the under-21 European Championships. Yet, more firepower is needed with Isak set to leave, and Magpies icon Shearer will be perplexed that another marksman hasn't already been signed before an Isak deal was pushed through.
Speaking to Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer was asked about the possibility of Isak leaving. The England legend admitted he would be rather surprised if Isak were to go without a second forward arriving.
"Newcastle haven't got one of the players that they want in," began Shearer, speaking before details emerged of Isak's impending move emerged late on Sunday. "I'd be surprised if Newcastle let him go without getting another forward in."
Alexander Isak looks on as he arrives
Isak is set for his Liverpool medical(Image: PA)
However, it seems like this is exactly what is happening, with the 25-year-old's medical booked, and a six-year deal all but agreed with Liverpool. This piles pressure on Eddie Howe's side to get another player signed.
In Isak's absence, young Will Osula had been left to shoulder goalscoring duties. While he did find the back of the net in the club's 3-2 defeat to Liverpool last week, Shearer does not think he is quite ready to be that other striker.
"He is not ready to lead the line for Newcastle," continued Shearer. "Potential? Yes. Attitude? Absolutely. You can't fault his efforts and everything else, but he's not ready to lead Newcastle in the Champions League and going forward in the league to try and get in a top five or top six space.
"His time may come in the future, but he's not ready to start yet. Woltemade, I think he could be a really clever signing," added Shearer, touching on the latest of Howe's recruits. "But it also comes with a risk because ultimately, he's had seven or eight months playing good football.
Nick Woltemade of Newcastle United pictured in the crowd at Elland Road
Woltemade was signed last week but another striker is needed
"He has not scored a lot of goals and has not gotten great experience. Just under £70m. Newcastle, unfortunately, are always going to have to pay over the limit because there is a Saudi price now, and there might be an Isak price.
"Other clubs know that Newcastle are on the hunt for a forward, so they were always going to get stung with the price. It could turn out to be really smart signing, but it's a big, big ask for him to go in and lead the line as Newcastle's No. 9."
Newcastle have multiple targets who remain on their deadline day radar, and it is likely that while Shearer is perplexed that one hasn't already been signed, there will be an incoming before the window closes. Both Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen remain on the agenda, and United were also linked with a move for Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk on Sunday.
Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson could be a possibility, as per the Guardian, who report that although the Senegalese striker's loan move to Bayern Munich fell through, a permanent exit could still be on the cards and the Magpies could swoop. United may also keep an eye on PSG star Randal Kolo Muani, whose transfer to Juventus is now reportedly off, with the Italian side bringing in Lois Openda instead.