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Published Sep 20, 2026, 5:15 PM GMT+1
Daniel is an experienced football writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering the professional game, specialising in the Championship, Football League and Scottish football, alongside in-depth coverage of Norwich City, Celtic and Rangers.
A journalist since 2015, Daniel began his career writing for Fresh Press before progressing into a full-time writing and editing role, producing club-focused coverage for Read Norwich, Read Celtic, Read Liverpool and Read Arsenal. He later spent almost a year with Liverpool-based outlet Anfield Watch, where his work included conducting and transcribing interviews with figures including Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, former Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Daniel has worked with Snack Media (now Valnet) since 2021, contributing to Football FanCast as both a writer and editor. His work focuses particularly on player analysis, transfer insight and original football features, combining detailed knowledge of the game with research-driven assessment of players, clubs and potential moves.
His specialist knowledge of Norwich City and the Football League has also seen him contribute to BBC Norfolk and assist DAZN with research for commentary broadcasts. As a Norwich City season-ticket holder, Daniel brings a level of first-hand knowledge of the club and its players that complements his wider expertise across the Championship and EFL. His Norwich coverage has also featured in publications including the Coventry Telegraph and Liverpool Echo.
Alongside his Football League expertise, Daniel has covered Celtic and Rangers extensively, developing a strong understanding of Scottish football. His work gives readers informed transfer assessment, detailed player analysis and authoritative insight into clubs and competitions he has spent years following and reporting on.
Newcastle United were dealt several blows over the course of the summer transfer window as some of their star players were snapped up by other teams.
Sandro Tonali was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £100m, Bruno Guimaraes joined Arsenal for £75m, and Barcelona swooped to sign Anthony Gordon for £69m.
Action Images via Reuters/Andrew CouldridgeThose losses have not been too damaging so far, though, as Matthias Jaissle's side have won two, drawn two, and only lost one of their first five Premier League matches.
Those departures came 12 months after the biggest sale in the club's history, as Alexander Isak went to Liverpool for a club-record fee of £125m in the summer of 2025.
How Newcastle hit the jackpot with Alexander Isak
Newcastle took a risk when they decided to sign the Sweden international from Real Sociedad for what was a then club-record fee of £63m in the summer of 2022.
The centre-forward had only scored six goals in 36 matches in LaLiga in the 2021/22 campaign for Real Sociedad, which meant that the Magpies were signing a young player who had yet to fulfill his potential.
He was an expensive project signing by the club, given the fee, but it was one that ultimately paid off because he went on to score 62 goals in 109 matches at St. James' Park, including a goal in the League Cup final win over Liverpool, the team he eventually joined.
Eddie Howe helped the Swedish number nine to develop into a prolific Premier League goalscorer during his time on Tyneside, recording over 20 goals in both of his last two seasons with the club.
|
Appearances |
30 |
34 |
|
xG |
20.29 |
20.42 |
|
Goals |
21 |
23 |
|
Minutes per goal |
108 |
120 |
|
Big chances created |
5 |
11 |
|
Assists |
2 |
6 |
Newcastle ultimately hit the jackpot with Isak, selling him for £125m, because they were willing to take a risk on a young player with potential, and were willing to give him the game time that he needed to develop in English football.
Newcastle have found their next Alexander Isak
Fast-forward to the present day and the Magpies may have unearthed their next version of Isak in the form of one of their summer signings.
In the summer, the club knew that they needed to add more depth and quality to their midfield because of the transfer sagas bubbling around Guimaraes and Tonali.
That led to Newcastle swooping to sign Dutch central midfielder Sean Steur for £23m from Ajax, after he had only made 26 first-team appearances for the Eredivisie giants.
It was a risky move by the Magpies, in the same way that it was when Isak joined from Real Sociedad, as the 18-year-old arrived in England with limited first-team experience.
Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithThankfully, it looks like Newcastle have already hit the jackpot with the Dutchman because he has settled in quickly and appears to be ready to make an instant impact in the Premier League.
Jaissle has used him in all five Premier League matches, starting twice, and started him in the middle of the park alongside Joe Willock in the 2-1 win over Hull City on Saturday.
|
Minutes |
66 |
|
Pass accuracy |
89% |
|
Dribble success rate |
100% |
|
Tackle success rate |
100% |
|
Duel success rate |
75% |
|
Chances created |
2 |
|
Duels won |
3/4 |
The teenage midfielder combined mobile and physical play out of possession with technical quality and creativity on the ball to help his team to win over the weekend.
Jaissle said it is "not normal" for a player of his age to be as good and as mature as he is, whilst journalist Luke Edwards stated that "he is going to be elite" after the match.
The most impressive aspect of his game is his willingness to take the ball under pressure in order to progress the play for his side. He does not hide in matches and is willing to impose himself on games to make things happen.
Tonali was sold for £100m as a midfielder after averaging 46.68 passes and 6.58 line-breaking passes per 90 in the Premier League for Newcastle last season.
REUTERS/Scott HeppellSteur is currently averaging 56 successful passes and ten line-breaking passes per 90 in the Premier League for the Magpies, which suggests that he is currently offering more to the team on the ball than the Italy international did.
Whilst he is still in the early stages of his career at St. James' Park, the 18-year-old already looks like a £100m talent in the making, given his quick start to life in England, and he could go on to become the new Isak on Tyneside.
Newcastle were willing to take a risk on the teenage star's potential, as they did with Isak in 2022, and they are already reaping the benefits of that decision.
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