'The club working on deal...' - Fabrizio Romano latest with Chelsea namedropped in striker chase
Alexander Isak is expected to leave Newcastle this summer, but is he heading to Stamford Bridge? Fabrizio Romano has the latest.
Chelsea might not have spent the same sort of money that Liverpool are spending this summer, however, there is a quiet effectiveness about how they are going about their business.
The bargain £30m signing of Liam Delap is already looking like money well spent as is the £60m that took for Joao Pedro to travel up to London from the south coast and put pen to paper. Already, the forward line has a different look to it and a physicality that has often been missing in recent seasons.
Alexander Isak latest as Fabrizio Romano gives Chelsea update
There is still money to spend with Xavi Simons the latest big name being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, the Dutch playmaker would be a quality addition, if a clash with Cole Palmer in terms of system and how they fit into the team together can be avoided.
According to Fabrizio Romano though, there is one player who won’t be signing for Chelsea with the transfer supremo claiming that Alexander Isak is not on their radar: “Chelsea not actively working on Alexander Isak deal and no interest in proceeding despite reports. #CFC very happy with their strikers and fully focused on Xavi Simons and Jorrel Hato deals now. The club working on Isak deal was, is and remains Liverpool.”
As Romano says, Chelsea are more than happy with what they’ve got in terms of strikers, after all, they’ve just fired them to the Club World Cup. Isak has been attracting attention since last summer when Chelsea and Arsenal were both credited with an interest in the big Swede. The 26-year old stayed out to fire the Toon the Champions League but there are now serious doubts about him being at St James’ Park next season.
Has Isak listened to Alan Shearer’s advice?
Match of the Day pundit and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer spoke to Isak in January, via BBC Sport, about the number of clubs keeping tabs on his situation with the Premier League’s record scorer having his hopes dashed only a few months later:
“I think he finds it complimentary that people are saying that other clubs want him because of how well he is doing, but none of that talk comes from him, and he is certainly not letting it affect his form. He is clearly an ambitious guy who wants to play in the Champions League, but like the Newcastle fans who adore him, I am hoping he can fulfil those aims at St James' Park.
“I ended our chat by telling him to keep doing what he is doing, and joked that nine-year contracts seem to be in fashion for strikers at the moment. It would be lovely to see him stay as long as that and help the team win some trophies, but I guess we will have to wait and see whether he listened to me or not.”
It’s beginning to look like Isak didn’t listen to the Geordie legend.