Eddie Howe has admitted that he gasped when he first saw the transfer price Newcastle United had paid for Alexander Isak.

The Sweden international made the switch from Real Sociedad in 2022 for a sum of £63million when a lot of La Liga commentators felt that his price was too high. Only, the fee now feels like a bargain with Newcastle not even interested in selling him for £150m.

The truth is, Isak is one of the most wanted centre-forwards in Europe right now and as he sits in fourth place in the Premier League top scorer race, he holds the key to Newcastle's top four aspirations. When asked if the fee paid for Isak, with Howe the lead decision maker at that time on transfers with no sporting director in place, Howe said he could say that with confidence now.

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Howe, who once worked on a shoestring budget in the lower leagues with Bournemouth, told Chronicle Live: "Yeah, I think it would be up there. The transfer fee is always a difficult one because if you look at the fee alone, for me, especially with my background, you think: 'Oh dear'.

"You are not sure you can commit to that because it is such a lot of money. But then when you look at the quality of the player and what he can do, what he can bring, I had no doubts. Of course, you wonder what he might be like as he has not played in the Premier League; there will always have to be some question marks he has to answer.

"But I had very few about the player. I thought he was outstanding."

Newcastle signed Isak at during a golden time when PSR was not such a problem in the summer of 2022. Back then the lack of spending from previous owner Mike Ashley offered the new Saudi-backed owners a tremendous runway to bring in stars like Isak, Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman.

But Isak was high on Howe's wish-list and the head coach has lifted the lid on his own scouting mission for the star. Howe said: "I watched him a lot and loved everything about him. It was a lovely feeling seeing him come through the door and even better when you are still in love with him after a few days of working with him."

Howe's judgment has looked even better in the last 24 hours after Isak won the Premier League Player of the Month award. The Swedish frontman was in tremendous form during the final month of 2024, providing eight goals - a stunning strike against Liverpool, one against Brentford, another against Leicester City, a first Magpies hat-trick against Ipswich Town, one against Aston Villa and the opener against Manchester United as well as registering two assists.

Isak's thunderbolt against Liverpool, in the enthralling 3-3 draw against the Reds, also banked him Guinness Goal of the Month.