Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher agree on Alexander Isak to Arsenal transfer with surprise Liverpool twist

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal’s interest in Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is well documented, with Mikel Arteta eager to pursue an ambitious deal for the striker in the summer.

The Gunners are crying out for a number nine, with Kai Havertz not quite producing the volume of goals needed to guide Arteta’s team to a Premier League title.

Ollie Watkins was the subject of a bid from the North Londoners late in the January transfer window, but they were unable to get the deal over the line.

Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Mathys Tel were also heavily linked with a switch to the Emirates.

However, Isak is Arsenal’s primary target going into the summer window, as the title hopefuls look to finally land a player they’ve admired for a long time.

• READ MORE: Kane, Isak, Sesko – Ranking Arsenal’s chances of landing five striker transfer targets this summer

Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher drop Alexander Isak to Arsenal Verdict

Netting 21 Premier League goals last season and 17 so far this term, Isak has the pedigree to excel at Arsenal.

His consistent goal-scoring exploits, combined with his immaculate combination and hold-up play, make him the ideal acquisition for Arteta’s team.

Isak hinted at the move back in January, explaining that he wears the number 14 shirt partly because of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

However, the deal would cost in excess of £120 million, and two prominent pundits don’t believe the Gunners securing the Swede is plausible.

Speaking on the Overlap, Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes agreed that Isak won’t join Arsenal.

“There’s almost this feeling that Arsenal are gonna sign him or Arsenal need to sign him,” Carragher said.

“Are you looking at that as an Arsenal fan and think that’s realistic that you can go and just buy Isak from Newcastle?

“He’s got like three or four years left on his contract. The reason I say that is because I think Liverpool are desperate for a centre-forward if I’m totally honest but there’s no talk about Liverpool…”

“I don’t see a possibility of him going to Arsenal,” Scholes responded.

“I don’t,” agreed the former Liverpool player.

Scholes then went a step further, suggesting that the 25-year-old should be thinking about Real Madrid.

“I think he has to go to bigger and better, the Real Madrids here.”

Arsenal can attract Alexander Isak to the club

While the price tag will be a major stumbling block in a potential deal for Isak, with Newcastle likely unwilling to sell their talisman for any fee that isn’t extremely excessive, Arsenal would certainly have no issues attracting the player.

Carragher and Scholes’ claims that Liverpool and Real Madrid should be in the conversation are wide of the mark.

Liverpool won’t be willing to splash in excess of £100 million on a striker when they have the likes of Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota already in their ranks, while Real Madrid already have Kylian Mbappe in their squad.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s financial situation would suggest that Isak would be unattainable for them, whilst they also still have Robert Lewandowski.

Italian clubs don’t have the economic ability to enact a deal for Isak, Bayern Munich have Harry Kane, while Manchester City have Erling Haaland.

The only realistic competitors for Isak for Arsenal are Chelsea, although there are few indications thus far that the Blues have any interest in the Newcastle forward.

While it’s reasonable to suggest that the fee may prevent a deal, suggesting Isak should ‘aim higher’ or should be heading to Merseyside is outlandish.