- 21 hours ago
Why Arsenal CANNOT afford repeat of Isak BLUNDER with Sesko transfer
Suraj Radia
- 6 Feb 2025 17:30 GMT
- 3 min read
Arsenal look set to live with regret over Alexander Isak, with Newcastle proving just why the Gunners need to be more adventurous in their transfer business to ensure they do not repeat past mistakes.
Isak was named man-of-the-match once again as Newcastle dumped the Gunners out of the Carabao Cup this week and emphasised why they will not be able to afford to sign the Swede this summer, if he even saw the Gunners as a step up at all.
Newcastle have no desire to sell their talismanic forward anytime soon and would likely demand a British transfer record if they did, having paid €70 million for the 25-year-old in 2022.
READ MORE: Arsenal's 10 most expensive transfers of all time
Arsenal had admired Isak for years and even considered a move for him six months prior to his move to St James’ Park but deemed the €90m release clause in his contract as over his market value.
Yet Isak’s pricetag has virtually doubled from that amount while Arsenal are still seeking their long-term solution to Mikel Arteta’s number nine woes, having spent more on stopgaps in the same time frame.
Arsenal’s search for a striker is now set to drag on for another window and, with players such as Benjamin Sesko being considered, the North London side cannot afford to waste more time and money and truly need to 'trust the process' in the transfer market.
Transfer trauma preventing Arsenal from progressing in the market
Isak’s final season at Real Sociedad saw the forward net just six times in 32 La Liga games, leading to his asking price dropping and Newcastle being given a free run at the striker, with rivals seemingly unconvinced by his credentials.
Newcastle, too, had scouted Isak for many years and saw his down year as a transfer opportunity to net an elite talent on a cut-price deal instead of being frightened by his outlier campaign.
Considering Isak netted on his Newcastle debut and went on to score ten times in 22 Premier League games, the Magpies’ faith in their scouting was repaid and they are now reaping the dividends.
Arsenal may feel they cannot afford to ‘gamble’ on an unproven talent but Arteta spent a total of €127m on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus despite question marks over their consistency as leading number nines for title-contending sides.
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Perhaps still haunted by the disastrous €80m signing of Nicolas Pepe, the fear of failure has led to Arsenal avoiding risks in the transfer market, while also being unable to afford proven successes like Isak.
It has left Arsenal missing out on yet another trophy due to their poor quality in attack, having seen Newcastle beat them 4-0 despite the Gunners having a higher xG over the two legs.
RB Leipzig will likely ask for a significant fee for Sesko this summer despite the 21-year-old still yet to fully prove his ability at the top level but, if Arsenal believe the Slovenian can be the solution to their problems then they simply must take the risk and pay the price needed.
Current ETV
Benjamin Šeško
F (C)
RB Leipzig
Benjamin Šeško
F (C)
RB Leipzig
ETV Range
€50.9M - €62.2M
Whether it is Sesko, Dusan Vlahovic or another forward, Arsenal have to put faith in their talent identification and accept the market rate for such players or risk continuing in limbo and seeing sides like Newcastle blitz past them on their way to the top.
