How Arsenal could make up for Isak regrets with Zirkzee transfer

Suraj Radia

• 28 Mar 2024 16:21 CDT
• 4 min read

Arsenal are said to be targeting a striker this summer as they look to cement their status among European’s elite sides and Mikel Arteta will hope the club have learned from past mistakes in the transfer market.

Although Arsenal are the top scorers in the Premier League this season, they have lacked a true goal threat up front, with the majority of their goals coming from the likes of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.

The combination of strikers Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah has only produced ten league goals this year and the absence of a physical focal point centre forward has led Arsenal to scout a number of players such as Victor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak.

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The pursuit of Isak in particular will perhaps prove a tough subject for Arsenal, having been linked numerous times to the Swedish international prior to his €70 million move to Newcastle in 2022.

However, Arsenal hesitated on a deal and allowed Newcastle to sign a player who has since adapted impressively to the Premier League, scoring 22 times in 42 games.

While Arsenal are hoping to make amends by targeting the 24-year-old this summer, Newcastle are not looking to sell their star striker and would demand well in excess of €100m for Isak, meaning the Gunners may have to consider another similar yet intriguing option.

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Along with Gyokeres and Isak, another man thought to be on Arsenal’s shortlist is Joshua Zirkzee, with the Bologna forward enjoying a breakout season in Serie A where he has scored ten times for the fourth-place side.

Like Isak, Zirkzee stands tall at 6 foot 4 inches and is renowned for his speed and ability on the ball as well as his hold up play and passing, making him a complete forward despite being perhaps raw with his consistency.

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Zirkzee, however, is at a similar point in his career to Isak when he was most heavily linked to Arsenal in 2022, having had his own breakout season with Sociedad where he scored 17 goals in 34 games.

Arsenal were reluctant to meet Isak’s release clause of €90m at the time but that price looks a bargain just over two years later and it would not be surprising to see Zirzkee follow a similar trend.

With the likes of Milan and Manchester United also linked to Zirkzee and the 22-year-old also could feasibly be called up for the Dutch national team at this summer’s European Championships, which would only boost his profile and price point.

Zirkzee is thought to be available for a significantly cheaper price to Arsenal’s other targets and, if the club truly believe in his potential then moving for the Bologna man could be a way to shake off the regrets from the Isak blunder and sign a player who could solve Arteta’s striker conundrum once and for all.