The Premier League's 13-goal striker rejected the temptation of Manchester United's high salary, and is now worth 150 million! It's clever not to wade into troubled waters

Newcastle United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Saturday to move fifth in the table, already 13 points clear of Manchester United. The team's striker Alexander Isak added another goal and has now scored 13 goals in the Premier League this season. In the 2022 summer window, the Red Devils had the opportunity to bring in the Swedish striker, but brought in Antony for a higher price, which was criticized. However, the Western media revealed that it was not that the Red Devils did not want to buy, but that Isak actually rejected Ten Hag, and he chose Newcastle himself.

Isak also scored against Manchester United in the last round, and his performances in La Liga and Euro 2020 attracted the attention of the giants, and the Red Devils made an offer, but Isaac preferred to play for the lesser-known Newcastle United than the olive branch extended by Old Trafford.

According to Spain's newspaper El Mundo, Manchester United made an "attractive offer" in the summer of 2022, but Isak and his team of agents flatly refused, and the Red Devils did not even have a chance to negotiate with his former club Real Sociedad.

As we all know, although it does not comply with the rules, most clubs will first approach the player before transferring. Manchester United invited Isak, but he felt that the Theatre of Dreams was now a black hole of stars and was not suitable for his further development, so he would not accept it.

Knowing their decision, Manchester United dropped the offer, while Newcastle made an offer of 50 million euros, which was rejected and raised to 70 million euros, of which 65 million was a fixed amount and a floating clause of 5 million, and finally completed the transfer fee record for the club. It is worth mentioning that the transfer was completed by then Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth, who was sacked by Manchester United not long ago.

Although the €70 million was less than Isak's €90 million at the time, the agent insisted that Isak join the Magpies rather than the Red Devils. Although his weekly salary at Newcastle is just £120,000, well below the £200,000 Manchester United have paid Antony, he seems to have made the right choice.

Isak is now on a thriving run in the Premier League, scoring 49 goals in 88 games, compared to 21 in the Premier League last season, something that has not been achieved by Manchester United since Ferguille's retirement. The last United to reach the 20-goal mark in the Premier League was Robin van Persie in 2012/13, and Ibrahimovic came closest to doing so, but a serious injury at the end of the season prevented him from achieving his goal. The 18 goals of Portuguese superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes are already the highest for a Red Devils player.

After missing Isak, Manchester United spent 100 million euros to buy winger Antony from Ajax, and then signed center forwards Hojlund and Zirkze respectively in the next two seasons, spending nearly 200 million in total, and the development of these players is not ideal, and the combined number of goals is not as good as Isak's.

Now, Newcastle have set a £150million price tag for Isak and manager Eddie Howe and the coaching staff have laid out a scientific development model for him. Isak has struggled in the first six games of the season, scoring just one goal, and Eddie Howe has regular one-on-one meetings with him to remind and motivate him not to live up to the love of St James' Park fans. Isak has been on the verge since October and has failed to score in just three of his last 13 games.

Manchester United have embarked on a new round of search for strikers, with a number of high-profile goalscorers on the list, but there is still a shadow in the hearts of Red Devils supporters, fearing that the arrival of new signings will become victims of the curse.