Arsenal make Alexander Isak transfer ‘decision’ as Mikel Arteta plan emerges

The Swedish international, who Newcastle signed for £63m in 2022, had an exceptional season last year. He scored 21 goals in the league, a tally only surpassed by Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer, attracting the attention of several top European clubs, including Arteta’s team.

The Gunners’ interest in Isak was initially flagged by The Guardian in April, with speculations of a whopping £100m fee possibly enticing Newcastle to part ways with their star striker.

It wasn’t until June that things truly got serious. With Newcastle at risk of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, it looked like they might have to hit the panic button.

Liverpool threw their hat in the ring for Anthony Gordon, and Arsenal were said to be circling over Isak, poised to swoop in should the opportunity arise. Yet, selling both Yankuba Minteh to Brighton and Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for a hefty £68m gave Newcastle the financial leeway they needed, meaning Isak was suddenly off the table.

Instead, Arsenal shifted their attention, securing talents like David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori, and Mikel Merino. As a result, the race to bring Isak to Emirates Stadium has cooled, especially with inputs now limited and transfer deadline day here.

Eddie Howe, Isak’s manager, weighed in on his players future, stating: “For me, I think the biggest thing is would I swap him with anybody else? No, I wouldn’t,” highlighting Isak’s age and potential as invaluable to the team. “When you look at his age profile and what’s to come, you look at his attributes and his qualities, he’s some talent.