Newcastle have admitted that they might need to sell one of their best players to comply with Financial Fair Play and the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations.
CEO Darren Eales has revealed that Newcastle will only be able to improve their squad if they sell a valuable asset. Prolific striker Isak is one of them, alongside midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and defender Sven Botman.
Arsenal’s desperation for a new centre-forward has become apparent in recent months. Premier League title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool both have several stars capable of scoring enough goals to finish at the summit of the top-flight.
Mikel Arteta lacks that figure in his own squad. Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have struggled for consistency, scoring a combined eight Premier League goals this term. City and Liverpool both have three players who have scored more than that tally alone.
Isak would likely change that, having proved his ability as a top Premier League forward. Since his move from Sociedad in the summer of 2022, the Swede has scored almost a goal every other game for Newcastle.
His 24 strikes in 50 appearances include 16 this term. That is despite injuries and competition from Callum Wilson preventing him from being ever-present in Howe’s side. Having played 3,288 minutes in his Newcastle career, Isak has effectively only played the equivalent of 38 full matches.
The 24-year-old struck up an excellent partnership with Odegaard in Spain during the 2019-20 season. The latter, at the time on loan from Real Madrid, linked up well with his centre-forward, often finding himself running beyond Isak to either create a chance for his team-mate or score himself.
Arsenal might only be able to fund a lucrative deal for Isak this month by moving on a few players to ensure they themselves remain in line with financial regulations. But Arteta has plenty of fringe players who can be sold at a decent price.
The north Londoners’ interest in Isak is long-standing and spans back to his time in Spain. Acquiring the Newcastle star could be the final piece in the jigsaw for Arteta’s Premier League title push.
