Arsenal were unwilling to get into a saga for Alexander Isak and Mikel Arteta felt Ivan Toney wasn’t fully suited for them
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and the club are reconsidering and assessing their forward options after Newcastle United firmly made it known they would not be considering any offers for Alexander Isak, according to the Independent journalist Miguel Delaney.
He claimed in his ‘Reading the Game’ newsletter today that the Sweden international was the top target for the Gunners this summer as far as signing a number 9 goes, but they were unwilling to get into a saga that could go on for the entire window.
As a result, they have quickly moved on despite Arteta seeing the qualities of Isak as so specifically suited to what he wants at Arsenal.
The North London club were almost willing to consider signing no other player apart from the Newcastle star for the striking role, but their manager briefly considered going for Brentford striker Ivan Toney again before the European Championship.
However, he reckoned the England international is not fully suited to his plans and does not meet all the requirements he wants in a number 9.
Isak does, but the Magpies have no plans to sell him even though they made frantic efforts to balance the books and meet the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) as a possible points-deduction loomed large.
Newcastle have since sorted things out and will be holding on to the Swede beyond this summer.
Arsenal are now likelier to go for a wide forward who can go central rather than sign an out-and-out striker, and they have to quickly make up their mind, with the transfer window closing at the end of this month.
They have sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham while Eddie Nketiah could join Marseille if the Ligue 1 club can meet the demands of the Gunners.
Jesus is expected to remain with the club, and he has looked sharp in pre-season, and versatile Germany international Kai Havertz will likely continue leading the line for them until further notice.
