According to several media outlets, Isak left Liverpool Airport late on Monday evening in a private jet – and he did so as a newly-minted Liverpool player and as the most expensive player to date in the Premier League.
On location in Stockholm, the attacking star must immediately shift focus. The World Championship qualification with the national team against Slovenia and Kosovo awaits.
Hjalmar Ekdal, who normally plays for Burnley in the Premier League, does not attach great importance to the fact that Isak has not played a match since the spring. Isak is an asset nonetheless when the qualification begins in Ljubljana on Friday evening, the defender means.
"Not particularly worried"
Well... we know what kind of player he is, what qualities he possesses. We can only hope that he has kept himself in shape to some extent, but regardless of what we know what he can contribute.
I do not think that anyone is particularly worried, really.
The twists and turns surrounding Isak's transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool have been hot news around the world during the summer.
How big of a topic of conversation is it among you players, in the club team and in the national team?
It is clear that there is a great interest in general for what happens in the Premier League and especially when it is a deal of that magnitude.
Do you get many questions in Burnley because you are Swedish?
Yes, you get some questions, absolutely, but I have no answers that they are craving.
"A really good guy"
Isak has been portrayed as a greedy traitor by Newcastle's supporters in particular, but Ekdal paints a positive picture of Isak as a person.
He is a really good guy. That is my impression of him since the first time we met. Whatever has happened, I can only say that he is a good guy.
Ekdal spent about half of last season on loan at Groningen in the Dutch league. Something that did him good, so good that Burnley wanted him back in the summer.
So far, he has played regularly in the club's return to the top league.
When the Premier League resumes after the World Championship qualification, something extra awaits: Liverpool at home on Turf Moor and a Swedish duel with Alexander Isak.
It will be special. It's always fun to play against friends and teammates. It will be his first match (for Liverpool). A special moment.
Football's enormous transfer sums also make today's top players amazed. According to consistent reports, Isak's transfer is worth a staggering 1.7 billion kronor.
It's fantastic, of course. With all due respect also in today's climate where prices have skyrocketed, but it is fully reasonable that he goes for that amount, says Hjalmar Ekdal.
