According to a report in TEAMtalk, London rivals Chelsea have now joined Arsenal in the pursuit of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.
Isak has been on Arsenal’s radar for more than a year and the Gunners have been making plans to go after him during the January transfer window. As is, it would have been tough for Arsenal to convince Newcastle in a mid-season sale but now, things are about to get a whole lot tougher with Chelsea joining this transfer race.
Newcastle United have been reluctant to part ways with a key player like Alexander Isak during the January window however, the latest rumours are suggesting that the Magpies will be willing to let him leave for a fee of around €140 million.
This amount might seem crazy but Isak still has four years remaining in his contract and Newcastle want to use the money immediately to be able to bring in a long-term replacement(preferably Viktor Gyokeres).
Will Arsenal or Chelsea be ready to pay such a premium for Alexander Isak?
Isak’s current market value is €75 million so NUFC are well within their rights to ask for €140 million. He’s been a prolific goalscorer for Sociedad and now Newcastle and this season, the centre-forward has six goal contributions in just 9 Premier League appearances.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea are in need of a new world-class striker but we seriously doubt if the Gunners’ management will be ready to pay €140 million for a single player that too during the middle of a campaign.
Alexander Isak is a top player who has adapted to the Premier League but Mikel Arteta will just not be given that kind of a transfer budget in January.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have spent crazily under their new owners and it won’t be a surprise if they are ready to pay €140 million for the Newcastle forward.
Nicolas Jackson has done remarkably well this season but Enzo Maresca is still searching for a new centre-forward and if Nkunku is sold in time then the Blues will generate a lot of money to fund the Isak deal.
Arsenal will be able to offer the Swedish international Champions League football this season, a luxury that Chelsea won’t be able to offer but the way they are playing, it’s almost certain that they will be back amongst the European elites next time.
Newcastle have set this price tag partly to fend off interest but if one of the two interested clubs are ready to pay up then the Magpies won’t mind selling Alexander Isak.
