Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak remains Mikel Arteta’s first-choice summer signing, but there’s an increasing feeling that a deal won’t be possible.
James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that Alexander Isak is undoubtedly Mikel Arteta’s preferred choice for a centre-forward signing this summer.
Yet McNicholas adds that there’s an acceptance at Arsenal that reaching a deal with Newcastle United may prove impossible.
With new sporting director Andrea Berta clearly a much bigger admirer of Viktor Gyokeres than his predecessors were, it seems a lot more likely that the club’s focus will shift in that direction.
Craig Hope reported for the Daily Mail last month that Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al Rumayyan had told the club to resist any offers for Isak this summer.
Al Rumayyan is adamant that Isak won’t be going anywhere in the upcoming window, with the striker having three years left on his contract.
The report added that Barcelona are interested, watching Isak play against West Ham United recently, but Newcastle will explore a new contract for the player this summer. Liverpool have also been linked in recent times.
As has been pointed out repeatedly, the one factor that could boost Arsenal’s chances between now and June is if Newcastle fail to secure Champions League football.
A player courting interest from the two top clubs in the country with 28 direct goal contributions in 33 games should really be playing in Europe’s top-tier competition, and he’ll be well aware of that.
But Newcastle are in a good position to finish in the top five (with fifth place set to guarantee Champions League football this season). Though they’re currently sixth, they’re just two points off fourth with a game in hand.
Unless they fall at the final hurdle, Newcastle should qualify for the Champions League, which would all but end the chances of Isak’s exit.