18 May 2024 , 05:37
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Paul Merson has told Arsenal they can be formidable next year - if they go out and sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak in the summer.
The Gunners are in contention for the Premier League title for the second consecutive year under Mikel Arteta, although Manchester City are favourites to retain their domestic crown ahead of Sunday's season finale.
The lack of an out-and-out No.9 has affected Arsenal's title push with Kai Havertz deputising in the role in recent weeks. As such, a striker is expected to be at the top of Arteta's wishlist ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Merson believes that Isak, the Magpies top scorer with 24 goals, would be the perfect signing for Arsenal - even if a deal to bring the Sweden international to the Emirates Stadium is highly unlikely.
The former Arsenal favourite told SportsKeeda : “They [Newcastle] are a massive team, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of their stars moved on to win trophies. If Arsenal sign a striker like Isak, I think they go to another level.”
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Isak, 24, has been persistently linked with the Gunners for months in the wake of his red-hot form for Newcastle, who snapped him up from Real Sociedad back in 2022.
Intriguingly, Arsenal, like plenty of other clubs, were interested in Isak back then. But Mirror Football has already outlined that the former Real Sociedad hotshot is no longer on the club's radar - especially at the £120million price that has been mooted in reports.
Join the debate! Who would you like to see Arsenal sign this summer? Let us know here.
Isak has been in red-hot form for Newcastle but is unlikely to be a summer target for Arsenal (Getty Images)RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has seemingly emerged as the club's primary target this week and it's understood that a £60million bid is being considered ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
Arsenal have been quick off the mark in recent summer windows and are expected to spend big again this year. Arteta stressed this week that he was hoping for more of the same.
“That's the ideal scenario,” he responded after being asked about targeting signings for the start of the window. “Every club wants that, we want that as coaches and for the players especially. Then for the team and for the environment. When you do that something clicks there and it’s really important because it starts to give you momentum.”
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