Arsenal leading transfer chase for Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak’s Profile Suits Arsenal – But His Lack of Goals Might Not

Having pulled £55m out of thin air to sign Ferran Torres this winter, Barcelona do not have £75m lying around unless they can negotiate another dodgy loan despite being, y’know, £1bn in debt.

The money is a rather large obstacle. It’s clear Arsenal are willing to spend after the £150m outlay over the summer, but they have also worked hard to bring down their wage bill, something that could be helped further if Aubameyang can be moved on.

Still, £75m is an awfully large sum to pay for a 22-year-old.

As a profile, Isak is near enough perfect for what Arsenal want. He is the archetypal modern striker, capable of linking play from deeper or leading a high-line press, all of which is interwoven with incredible technical proficiency in tight spaces or with grass to run into.

Neat control and quick feet are valuable inside the box too, where he produces a high volume of high quality shots on goal. Isak can weave his way through challenges despite his taller frame, possesses decent pace, and finds the target often.

Arsenal would be quite content with a younger, faster version of Lacazette. If he scored more, that is. Like he used to, back at Lyon.

There are numerous components and traits Arsenal want in a striker but the bottom line is they also need someone who can find the back of the net more than most. Isak netted 17 goals in La Liga last term for a rate of one in two, yet this time around he’s only scored four times in 15 league outings, 13 of those being in the starting lineup.

But there is so much potential there. Real Sociedad aren’t having the best of seasons as they sit seventh in the table, and what Isak could produce in a team like Arsenal’s is what will convince. The money, however, is eye-watering.

Verdict: El Nacional is not the most reliable of sources, and their information may be solely based on Barcelona’s inability to cough up the money, therefore by default it’s Arsenal who are ‘leading the chase’.

While there is definite interest in Isak from Arsenal, as previously reported by The Athletic, at present the two main targets appear to be Jonathan David and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Isak, however, is a special talent. Maybe just a touch lightweight, but that can change.