Alexander Isak to Arsenal? The state of play revealed

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 10 Jan 2025 09:31 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal will reportedly be unable to fund a move for Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak this summer.

The Sweden international has emerged as a key transfer target for Mikel Arteta’s side, amid their search for a new number nine, but the Gunners don’t have the funds to tempt Newcastle into a sale.

That is according to The Daily Mail, who report that while Newcastle haven’t set an asking price for Isak, they likely won’t entertain offers below the €137 million (£115m) mark.

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The 25-year-old has netted in seven consecutive Premier League matches and he now has 15 goals and four assists in 22 appearances across all competitions so far this season.

Isak’s current contract at Newcastle isn’t due to expire until 2028 and the Magpies are determined to retain the Sweden star as they look to become Champions League regulars once again.

As a result, The Daily Mail state that Arsenal are extremely unlikely to sign Isak in 2025.

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Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko could both be sold this year, while Thomas Partey’s wages will be removed when his contract expires at the end of June. However, a big-money move for Isak has reportedly been played down by the club.

Although a pursuit of Isak is currently unlikely, FootballTransfers understands that Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres both remain on Arsenal’s radar as the club aims to sign a prolific goalscorer before the end of 2025.

What has been said?

Meanwhile, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has urged his former club to keep hold of Isak at any cost.

He told The Rest is Football Podcast: “We know that centre forward is the most important position. [Isak is] one of the reasons they’re fifth and in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup. What are the fans going to do with the money? I wouldn’t sell, absolutely not.

“If you go out and spend £50m or £60m on another striker… who, what and where? They’re difficult to find, so when you’ve got a good one, why do you want to let him go for any price?

“If they’ve got to sell for PSR reasons there will be other players that I would sell before I would sell Isak for £150m.”