Arsenal can hatch brand new Alexander Isak transfer plan as free agent chance emerges

Week one of being without domestic top-level football is done. Mikel Arteta has just a matter of days now to get his team ready to face Tottenham in the biggest match of the season so far.

While doing that he will have to blank out talk of the final few transfer windows across Europe coming to a close. Turkish teams are certainly making a lot of noise and that isn’t helpful with a North London Derby on the horizon.

It hasn’t even been easy sailing for Arsenal during the international break either. Riccardo Calafiori’s injury comes at a bad time for the Gunners, who won’t want anymore selection problems heading into Sunday, especially not with Declan Rice’s absence in midfield already being felt.

Isak plan

Arsenal are planning a move for Alexander Isak next summer and haven’t taken him off their shortlist despite Newcastle’s high asking price. It is claimed by Twitter/X transfer news account Team News and Ticks that Arteta views him as a long-term dream with Arsenal likely to go back in for the striker again next year.

The player has been on the radar for the Gunners for some time but with reports of over £100million being needed to get him out of St James’ Park, it has been a no-go so far. Even a player-plus-cash suggestion from Chelsea with Nicolas Jackson for Isak was said to have been swiftly declined.

Arsenal, though, see Isak as a top option and it is expected that they will push for him once more in 12 months time. A move could be sped up if Eddie Howe’s side don’t get into Europe again next season.

football.london says: Isak is going to be right there for Arsenal (and probably other teams) for a while. He’s really, really, really good. The cost of an elite forward is high though.

Arsenal can’t have their cake and eat it. If they want Isak then they will, at some point, have to pay the big boy money to get it done. Newcastle are right to be firm with him, and Arsenal, who spent much of the summer bumping up the prices for Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah, and Emile Smith Rowe, can hardly complain at this tactic.

Holding out for 12 months to see if Newcastle are in the Champions League or Europa League (the Conference League is unlikely to be enough to persuade him to stay, and the Europa League might not either), is a smart plan. It doesn’t guarantee that he’ll be there for much cheaper next year but a deal this summer was always going to be extremely hard regardless.