Real Sociedad’s Jokin Aperribay has revealed how Newcastle United’s call for Alexander Isak this summer ‘changed everything’ at the club.
Isak joined Newcastle in a €70m deal towards the end of August, with Newcastle flexing their financial muscle to secure the Swedish international’s signature.
He became the Magpies’ biggest ever signing and their largest of this summer by some distance, with the closest to that figure the €37m paid for Sven Botman.
The move for the striker was one that few saw coming, with a deal quickly wrapped up behind the scenes and flying under the radar, so much so that nobody realised he would be moving to St James’ Park until it was announced he was travelling to Newcastle for a medical.
It was a sign of the new financial strength in place in the Northeast and how Eddie Howe’s side can quite literally sign anyone if they wish to do so.
That financial muscle can open doors that were previously closed, and according to Aperribay, also completely change a club’s fortunes.
“Before Isak left, the last week of August, we had between €10-11 million salary cap, we could sign, but we weren’t going to do anything,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
“We had an open conversation with Sorloth, but we wanted to come up with a fully sustainable budget. It was quite possible we wouldn’t have signed.
“The call from Newcastle changed everything. We were prepared and we made decisions to face the year with financial and sporting guarantees.”
