Alexander Isak: Is Newcastle’s £150m star worth the hype?

Alexander Isak, Newcastle United’s talismanic striker, is the talk of the transfer market. With a reported £150m price tag slapped on him to fend off interest from Liverpool and probably Paris Saint-Germain, the 25-year-old Swede is being billed as one of the world’s elite No. 9s. But does his career justify such a huge valuation, especially when stacked against a proven goal machine like Victor Osimhen, whose individual accolades outshine Isak’s? This piece is set to explore the case for and against Isak’s worth, diving into his performance, potential, and the curious gap in his trophy cabinet.

Why Isak deserves his Newcastle price tag

The rise of Alexander Isak at Newcastle has been nothing short of electric. Since his £63m move from Real Sociedad in 2022, he’s delivered moments of brilliance that have Magpies fans dreaming of Alan Shearer’s heir. In the 2024/25 Premier League season, Isak has bagged 13 goals and three assists in 22 appearances, averaging a goal every 148 minutes. His December 2024 record; eight goals and two assists, earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award, a feat capped by a stunning strike against Liverpool in a 3-3 draw, also voted Goal of the Month. His strike in Newcastle’s 2-1 EFL Cup final win over Liverpool in March 2025 secured the club’s first domestic trophy since 1955, cementing his clutch credentials.

Isak’s game is a recruiter’s dream. At 6ft 4in, he combines towering physicality with ball sense, darting past defenders with ease and finishing with either foot. His 17 non-penalty goals in 2023/24 matched Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Swedish record for a Premier League season, and he broke it with a brace against Sheffield United in April 2024. Critics rave about his marketability, calling him “the hottest No. 9” behind only Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, citing his Premier League pedigree as a premium asset. With three years left on his contract and Newcastle’s Champions League qualification for 2025/26, the Magpies hold all the cards, justifying their £150m potentially £171m with fees valuation.

Isak’s age (25) and injury record, while not flawless, bolster his case. He’s missed games due to hamstring and groin issues but has largely stayed durable, playing 30+ league matches in 2023/24 and 2024/25. His versatility, able to lead the line, drop deep, or exploit channels makes him a tactical fit for modern systems like Eddie Howe’s high-pressing 4-3-3 or Arne Slot’s fluid Liverpool setup. Compared to Benjamin Sesko, another striker linked with Manchester United, Isak’s proven Premier League output (50 goals in 96 appearances) is miles apart from Sesko’s 13 Bundesliga goals in 2024/25, making his price tag seem less outrageous in a thin striker market.

RELATED STORIES

EPL December’s POTM? How Alexander Isak Became Newcastle’s Talisman

Five important transfer market rules every football fan must know

Why Isak’s price tag is outrageous and undeserving

Now, enter Victor Osimhen. The Napoli and Galatasaray star, valued at £80m-£100m, offers a compelling counterpoint. Osimhen’s individual record is a trophy case Alexander Isak can’t yet match. In 2022/23, he spearheaded Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years, winning the Capocannoniere with 26 goals in 32 matches. His 2023/24 season yielded 15 goals in 25 Serie A games, and in 2024/25, on loan at Galatasaray, he’s scored 12 goals in 18 Super Lig matches, adding six in the Europa League. Osimhen’s nine goals in 17 Champions League appearances is more than Isak’s solitary strike in six outings, showing that his price tag is a hype he doesn’t deserve.

Osimhen’s accolades don’t stop at goals. He was named African Footballer of the Year in 2023, a testament to his continental dominance, and ranks in the top 4% of strikers for shot-creating actions and top 18% for progressive carries per 90, per FBref. Isak, by contrast, has no major individual awards beyond his December 2024 Player of the Month nod and a PFA Player of the Year nomination. His trophy haul is limited to the EFL Cup, a far cry from Osimhen’s Serie A crown and consistent big-stage performances.

The price tag disparity raises eyebrows. Osimhen’s £80m-£100m valuation reflects a proven winner at 26, with a broader European track record. Isak’s £150m, potentially £250m with wages and fees over five years feels inflated for a player yet to lead a title charge or dominate in Europe. His goals in the 2024/25 season, while strong, trail Haaland and even Bryan Mbeumo, and his xG of 0.58 per 90 is solid but not elite compared to Osimhen’s 0.65. Newcastle’s leverage comes from Isak’s contract and Premier League premium, but as critics noted, “excellent scouting can find the next best thing for a much cheaper fee.” Osimhen, with his pedigree, looks like better value.

Criticizing Isak’s price tag

The price tag on Alexander Isak is a bet on potential, not proven supremacy. He’s a phenomenal talent, electric, versatile, and Premier League-tested but his lack of individual records compared to Osimhen exposes a valuation driven more by market dynamics than on-pitch dominance. Newcastle’s £150m demand reflects a thin striker market and Isak’s age, but it’s hard to justify when Osimhen, with a Serie A title, African Footballer of the Year award, Top 10 in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, and superior Champions League stats, costs £50m less. Isak’s EFL Cup heroics and Player of the Month award are milestones, but can’t be compared to Osimhen’s transformative impact at Napoli and at Galatasaray.

The counterargument is context. Isak’s Premier League goals come against tougher defenses than Serie A or the Super Lig, and his adaptability suits England’s physicality. Yet, his injury history, missing 16 games in 2022/23 and silent European record raise doubts about his readiness to justify a big transfer fee like the one of Neymar Jr to PSG or Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. Liverpool’s interest, fueled by Isak’s reported desire to join, adds heat, but even their financial muscle might balk at £150m when Osimhen or Sesko offer similar upside for less.

RELATED STORIES

Jeremie Frimpong: What fans could expect from Trent’s replacement

What football fans will never forget in 2025

Final take

Isak is a top-tier striker, but his £150m tag feels like Newcastle flexing their negotiating power rather than a fair reflection of his achievements. Osimhen’s individual records titles, awards, and European goals make him the better value, delivering proven impact at a lower cost. Isak’s potential to become a Haaland or Mbappe is tantalizing, but until he matches their output or Osimhen’s accolades, his price shows hype over substance. Newcastle fans will argue he’s priceless to their project, but for suitors, the question is clear: why pay £150m for promise when players with Osimhen’s proven pedigree or have similar goal records like Isak costs less?