"He’s still only 24" - Alan Shearer claims Premier League striker is being compared with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry
Premier League legend Alan Shearer has claimed that Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak is being compared to Arsenal icon Thierry Henry.
Shearer, one of the greatest strikers to have ever graced the Premier League, has lavished praise on the Magpies attacker.
Shearer claimed that Newcastle United coaches compared Isak to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry because of his style of play. The Premier League legend also said that he is a huge fan of the striker's style of play.
Shearer insisted that Isak is just 24-years-old and still has plenty of time to improve his game. Writing in The Athletic, as quoted by TBR Football, Shearer said:
“I love Isak, not just because of who he plays for or the position he plays in, or his excellent record of 23 goals in 36 starts in all competitions, but because of how he does it."
He added:
"As a kid — he’s still only 24 — he was inevitably compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, another Swedish legend, but the comparison they make within Newcastle’s coaching staff is to Thierry Henry. You can see it in that blistering pace, the languid grace, that gorgeous, fluid movement.”
Isak joined Newcastle United from Real Sociedad in 2022 in a club-record deal worth reported £63 million. The Sweden international has scored 23 goals and provided three assists in 49 games for Eddie Howe's side so far.
Arsenal suffer a blow in their pursuit of La Liga attacker
Arsenal have reportedly suffered a major blow in their pursuit of Getafe striker Borja Mayoral. According to Caught Offside via Spanish outlet AS, Getafe are not ready to part ways with their star attacker in the middle of the season.
Mayoral emerged as a target for Arsenal following the Gunners' struggles for goals in recent weeks. The Spaniard has enjoyed a pretty solid season for Getafe this time out and is just one goal behind Jude Bellingham in the race for the La Liga Golden Boot.
The former Real Madrid attacker has scored 14 goals and provided one assist in 22 games across competitions. At 26, Mayoral is finally living up to the promise he showed at a very early age while coming through the youth ranks of Real Madrid.
Arsenal strikers Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have just scored eight Premier League goals between them this season. Bringing a new striker is reportedly a priority for the north London giants in January.