Liverpool and Arsenal’s hopes of securing Alexander Isak this summer could be dashed by a foreign rival. The Gunners’ need for a striker has led to frequent links with Isak, with interest dating back to January 2022.
Liverpool’s absence of a world-class centre-forward has also put Arne Slot in the running for the prolific Newcastle forward. However, it seems that the Premier League’s current top two clubs are set to miss out on Isak.
According to RMC Sport, Paris Saint-Germain, who recently ousted Liverpool from the Champions League, is planning an extraordinary player-plus-cash deal for the Magpies’ goal scorer. Goncalo Ramos, Randal Kolo Muani and Marco Asensio are all reportedly up for grabs in a combined swap deal for Isak, who carries a price tag exceeding $195 million/£150 million.
Kolo Muani and Asensio are surplus to requirements in Paris, having been loaned out to Juventus and Aston Villa respectively. Forward Ramos could also be let go if Isak moves in the opposite direction.
Kolo Muani has been performing well for Juventus since his January loan, netting five goals in his first three matches, while Asensio has also made a mark at Villa. This has significantly boosted their respective values, giving PSG valuable bargaining chips as they seek to resolve their own centre-forward issue.
Crucially, neither Arsenal nor Liverpool would be in a position to match such a lavish deal. Newcastle would naturally require a replacement for Isak, which the potential signings of Kolo Muani and/or Ramos could directly address.
Arsenal, on the other hand, doesn’t have any notable forwards to offer, while Liverpool’s underperforming Darwin Nunez and injury-prone Diogo Jota are unlikely to satisfy Eddie Howe’s now high standards for a No. 9.
Unless Newcastle shows no interest in PSG’s players, the Premier League powerhouses will therefore need to go the extra mile to secure the Swede’s signature, shelling out a substantial amount in a cash-only transaction.
This is due to Isak having three years remaining on his current contract, as well as his emergence this season as one of the standout strikers in global football. The ex-Real Sociedad forward has netted 19 goals in the Premier League alone this season and an impressive total of 22 across all competitions.
His contributions have propelled the Magpies into the race for Champions League qualification and into the Carabao Cup final, set to take place at Wembley on Sunday afternoon. Arsenal, meanwhile, have seen a lack of a clinical No. 9 hamper its title aspirations this term, suggesting Mikel Arteta could be handed a significant transfer budget come the transfer window.
