Newcastle United cult hero provides exciting verdict on record Alexander Isak signing

Newcastle United cult hero Ryan Taylor believes the imminent signing of Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak is a sign of things to come at his former club.

The Magpies are closing in on a deal to bring the Sweden international to Tyneside after making a decisive move on Tuesday afternoon.

Sporting director Dan Ashworth and head of recruitment Steve Nickson are currently in Spain looking to complete the formalities of a club record deal believed to be worth around £60million.

Isak has attracted interest from the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid and Manchester United in recent years but it is Newcastle that look to make a landmark addition.

Taylor sees the move for Isak as an indication of where the Magpies hierarchy will take the club in the future as they look to challenge for major honours.

Speaking to Sky Sports following United’s Carabao Cup win at Tranmere, he said: “There’s levels Newcastle are going to, there’s levels they’ve been at, they’ve stuck at, and now you can see what the owners are doing.

“They’re going to a new level, it looks like they are buying top, top quality from now on.

“This could be the start of what we thought was going to happen at Newcastle.”

Taylor also stated the addition of Isak would be a statement of intent for current United players.

The Magpies owners wasted little time in stating their ambitions following their takeover of the club last October.

Signings such as Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes were identified as key to their plans and Taylor believes further quality additions will only enhance the good feeling at the club.

Speaking about recent reports linking Guimaraes with a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid, he said: “He is obviously attracting attention already in such a short space of time - but why would you leave a club that is only going one way.

“Yes, Real Madrid have been linked with him, but it’s so new to his Newcastle career, he’s never going to leave right now and it’s only going to get better.

“The people that come through that door are only going to add quality to the squad.”