ANTHONY ELANGA has even taken to singing to try and convince “the world’s best striker” Alexander Isak to stay at Newcastle.
And Toon’s new £55m Swedish winger believes he can provide the ammunition for his compatriot to become the Magpies’ all-time greatest marksman.
GettyAnthony Elanga arrived at Newcastle in a £55m deal from Nottingham Forest[/caption]
GettyHis fellow Swede is wanted by Liverpool but Toon are determined to keep him[/caption]
Elanga, 23, has arrived from Nottingham Forest and performed Ben E King’s classic Stand By Me as his chosen initiation song in their Austrian pre-season camp this week.
Although he claims his choice was due to it being special to him and his girlfriend, it could easily have been interpreted as a message to “big brother” Isak after Liverpool had an approach for the £150m-rated superstar knocked back.
Asked directly if he was confident Isak would stay, Elanga said: “There’s always going to be noise around him but, at the end of the day, he’s a Newcastle United player right now. For me, I’m just trying to focus on what he’s doing in training and speaking to him every day.
“Alex, for me, is the best striker in the world and someone that, not just footballer wise, but also off the pitch, is an amazing person and someone I can always rely on to go for advice.
“He’s always going to be there and try to help me and is like my big brother in a sense. I appreciate him a lot.”
Isak and his representatives were left disappointed last summer when promised talks over a new deal failed to materialise.
Boss Eddie Howe is adamant last season’s 27-goal top scorer is going nowhere and the club hope to convince him to stay by smashing the £200,000-a-week threshold to make him their best-paid player.
On whether he’d had any clues from his friend that he would extend his deal past its current 2028 expiry date, Elanga said: “Whenever I speak to Alex it’s always about good things – how my family is, how his family is and that’s the first thing (he asked me).
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“I always try to focus on the present and the now and Alex being the person he is, he’s the type of player who is always staying focused.
“What he’s shown in training is second to none and I’m looking forward to continuing training with him.”
He continued: “Having him here is amazing and of course played a part [in me signing] but also Sandro [Tonali], Bruno [Guimaraes], Joelinton, Anthony Gordon – who I also knew really well. What they did last year was amazing, getting into the Champions League and winning a trophy after 70 years, that can’t be forgotten about. That played a huge part in me coming here. They have that winning mentality.
“I want to form partnerships with everyone, even outside the pitch, different people. On the pitch, communicating, that rapport and that team spirit is vital. For me it is about learning from everyone.”
Hotshot Isak already enjoys God-like status on Tyneside after firing them to Carabao Cup glory.
And if he does stay long-term, then Elanga believes there is nothing to stop him from scoring another 145 goals and beating Shearer’s record haul of 206.
PAThe Toon new boy says Isak is the best striker on the planet[/caption]
GettyElanga could make his Magpies debut at Celtic on Saturday[/caption]
He added: “Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. That mentality Alex has is second to none. I just know how good he is.”
Elanga, who scored six and grabbed 11 assists for Forest in the top-flight last season, also claims he’s nowhere near fulfilled his full potential yet.
And the ex-Manchester United speedster added that he believes both himself and his new team-mates in Black and White can find another level and enjoy further success.
He added: “I want to bring goals and assists to the team and, being here, they’re really going to improve my overall game. People haven’t seen the best of me yet. There’s so much more from me to come and I really want to show that.
“This will be an amazing season, not just for the team, but for me as well and everyone around the city. It’s going to be a really good season and hopefully we can really showcase what we can do.
“We’re really on the right track. I can really sense that feeling of we really want to grab something and win something this year.”
Curse of Frankfurt means Ekitike is a huge risk at £86.5million
AT £86.5million, Hugo Ekitike would be a sizeable gamble for Liverpool, writes Joe Bryant.
That’s because Premier League clubs should be wary of the Frankfurt curse.
The Germans have a knack of selling strikers at a massive profit, only for them to struggle at their next club.
Luka Jovic (£52m), Sebastien Haller (£42m), Randall Kolo Muani (£77m) and Andre Silva (£20m) definitely fall into the category of transfers where you wished you had kept the receipt.
Omar Marmoush does seem to have broken the hoodoo at Manchester City, although it is still early days at the Etihad.
And Liverpool will need Ekitike to hit the ground running if they want to defend their Prem crown.
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