´Best striker in the world´ Isak not focusing on transfer noise, says Elanga

Anthony Elanga believes Alexander Isak is the “greatest striker on the earth” and has backed his club-mate to dam out the noise round his Newcastle United future.

Isak has been the topic of curiosity from Liverpool, who had been reportedly all in favour of a £120m deal for him, although Newcastle insist he isn’t on the market.

The Swede was the second-highest scorer within the Premier League final season, with solely Mohamed Salah (29) netting greater than his 23 targets.

His haul got here from 20.4 anticipated targets (xG) and 99 pictures, with 46 of these heading in the right direction. Isak additionally transformed 18 of his 36 massive possibilities all through the season.

Elanga lately joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest for a reported £52m and is relishing the prospect to play along with his worldwide team-mate at membership degree.

Although he wouldn’t be drawn into hypothesis over Isak’s future, he has little doubt that the 25-year-old is not going to let it have an effect on his performances.

“I at all times try to deal with the current and the now, and Alex being the individual he’s, among the finest attackers on the earth. I believe there’s at all times going to be noise round him, however he’s the kind of participant who’s at all times staying targeted,” Elanga informed The Athletic.

“What he’s proven in coaching is second to none, and I’m wanting ahead to persevering with coaching with him.

“There are such a lot of nice partnerships [at Newcastle]however it might be nice, Alex and me.

“The perfect striker on the earth and somebody that, not simply as a participant, he’s an incredible individual as nicely, so I can at all times depend on him for recommendation and no matter. He’s at all times going to be there to assist me, so I respect him rather a lot.”

Solely Salah (18) and Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy (12) supplied extra assists than Elanga (11) within the Premier League final time period.

It was essentially the most assists by a Forest participant in a top-flight marketing campaign since 1994-95, when Bryan Roy managed 11.

“A participant of his stature, there’s at all times going to be noise round him,” Elanga added.

“He’s among the finest gamers on the earth, among the finest attackers on the earth. I’ve performed with him at worldwide degree, so I can say so.

“There’s at all times going to be noise round him, however on the finish of the day, he’s a Newcastle United participant proper now. I’m simply attempting to deal with what he’s doing in coaching and chatting with him every single day.”

Newcastle start the 2025-26 Premier League season away to Aston Villa on August 16.