Newcastle United They started the season hot and cold, but hit a real green patch over the festive period, winning ten straight matches in all competitions, taking them to second place. UEFA Champions League Places in Premier League Table and semi-final of the English League Cup.
However, due to last weekend's 4-1 loss to Bournemouth, their first loss since November, Eddie Howe's side have dropped to sixth, sharing points with fifth-placed Manchester City, and two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
With Toon looking to return to the Champions League next season, the focus will be on keeping their best players at the club next January, while also looking to bolster their abilities if possible, with the second half of the season looking likely to determine the future. to Alexander Isaac.
Newcastle weighs a move for the big-money striker
according to Reports from The ChronicleNewcastle is considering an offer to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sisco. It follows reports from Germany suggesting any applicants would have to pay a seismic fee and, for the Magpies, a club record transfer fee of around £67m.
The Slovenian striker is also on the radar of many top European clubs Arsenal are said to be one name keen on making a deal This month for Cisco.
Move focus
Big money deals, controversial moves and big name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinions via Football FanCast.
The 21-year-old was the subject of interest from Newcastle in 2023, before moving from Red Bull Salzburg to RB Leipzig, but since moving to the Bundesliga and proving his quality further, it has become unlikely that teams will land him from Germany for less. Of his release clause of €80m (£67m).
Cisco did He participated in 25 matches in all competitions with the German team this seasonHe scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 1,768 minutes.
How does Cisco compare to Alexander Isaak?
Isaac, who is four years older than Cisco, has He has made 24 appearances for the Magpies this seasonHe scored 17 goals, provided five assists, and totaled 1,932 minutes played. So it's no surprise he improved Toon's goal.
However, they share similar traits and qualities that would make Cisco a good replacement should the Swede leave Northeast in 2025.
They're both long, with Isak standing at 6-foot-4 and Cisco at 6-foot-5, so the forwards have a similarly long but lanky frame that is deceptively agile for their height.
However, the Swede's production is better across the domestic season so far.
Benjamin Sisko vs. Alexander Isak in 2024/25 |
||
---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90 minutes) |
cisco |
Isaac |
Objectives |
0.71 |
0.83 |
Helps |
0.12 |
0.24 |
xG |
0.40 |
0.70 |
xAG |
0.03 |
0.20 |
Holds progressivism |
1.75 |
2.82 |
Progressive passes |
1.58 |
2.71 |
Total shots |
2.89 |
3.61 |
Goals / Shot |
0.21 |
0.23 |
Key passes |
0.51 |
1.82 |
Snapshot creation procedures |
1.58 |
3.70 |
He won aerial duels |
2.60 |
0.94 |
Statistics taken from FBref |
When comparing Sesko and Isak against the metrics analyzed above, you can see that Isak is, of course, a more refined version of the Leipzig star, contributing more to the production, finding himself in better scoring areas (generating a higher xG) and finishing with a higher shot percentage of 0.23. /goal ratio compared to 0.21 for Cisco.
However, Sesko has been rated as “rare“Forward by critic Tony Cascarino, who compared his physical qualities to Manchester City's Erling Haaland, but compared the quality of his dribbling to Manchester United legend, Ryan Giggs.
“He's a big, strong lad too, and he can dribble. For someone who's 6-foot-5, he runs with the ball unbelievably. He's being linked to being similar to Haaland, but if you watch him play, he dribbles like Ryan.” “Gigs.”
This alone shows the quality of the tall striker. He is clearly physically gifted but has the agility and dribbling qualities of a winger, similar to Isak.
If the club's top scorer were to leave Newcastle at the end of the season, Cisco would be a great replacement. He is a young star and capable of filling the shoes of the former Real Sociedad striker in the long term.