3 months ago
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Arsenal and Chelsea should ‘break the bank’ to sign Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak before the transfer deadline, according to Paul Merson.
Isak was being heavily linked with a move away from St James’ Park earlier in the year but Newcastle have made it clear they want to keep hold of the talented forward.
Following a promising first season at Newcastle, Isak emerged as one of the club’s most important players last term, scoring 21 goals in the Premier League.
Arsenal and Chelsea have both been credited with holding interest in the 24-year-old and Merson believes Isak would be a game-changing signing for the London clubs.
Merson rates Isak so highly that he even believes Arsenal would win the Premier League if he moved to north London, while he reckons the Sweden international would guarantee Chelsea a place in the Champions League.
With a little over two weeks remaining until the summer transfer window shuts, Arsenal and Chelsea could yet make moves for new strikers.
The Gunners were prolific in front of goal last season but relied heavily on Kai Havertz as Gabriel Jesus endured a frustrating season. Mikel Arteta targeted Benjamin Sesko earlier in the summer but he ended up staying at RB Leipzig.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are interested in signing another striker to provide cover and competition for Nicolas Jackson and continue to be linked with Victor Osimhen.
‘Newcastle have done well to keep Alexander Isaak and Bruno Guimaraes, at the moment,’ Merson told Sky Sports.
‘If I was a Chelsea or an Arsenal, I’d be breaking the bank for Isak. If Chelsea got Isak, they’d be certainty for a top-four finish. If Arsenal got him, they’d win the league.’
Merson has enjoyed seeing his former club Arsenal challenge for the Premier League title over the last two seasons but believes the Gunners could fall away this term if they are hit by unfortunate injuries.
‘I know after their performances in recent seasons in the Premier League this might be slightly controversial, but I think Arsenal are a couple of injuries away from being in a battle to make the top four,’ he said.
‘On paper, they are certainly Manchester City’s closest challengers, but last season the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all played a lot of football matches.
‘The two central defenders virtually played every game. However, a couple of seasons ago Saliba picked up an injury towards the end of the season and they were leaking goals left, right and centre as their title bid faltered.
‘All their big players stayed fit and that was crucial for Mikel Arteta’s side last season, but they still could not overhaul Manchester City.
‘Talking up Arsenal as Premier League title challengers is dangerous for me this time around.
‘If they can keep all their big players fit they will push Pep Guardiola’s side close, potentially all the way again. But if they have some bad luck with injuries this time around, it could be a real struggle.
‘I still also think the Gunners need a centre-forward before the transfer window closes. I can’t see them winning the Premier League without an out-and-out striker.’
Chelsea, meanwhile, could be set for another difficult season, according to Merson, after appointing Enzo Maresca as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement.
‘Enzo Maresca has got to hit the ground running but I can’t see this team being consistent enough,’ the ex-Arsenal and England winger added.
‘People will point to the fact that they finished strongly in the league, winning their final five matches of the season. But not long before that they were getting beaten 5-0 by Arsenal.
‘That’s the benchmark. Beating the likes of Brighton and West Ham, no disrespect to those sides, isn’t Chelsea’s benchmark. Their benchmark is Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.
‘At the moment, I’m seeing Chelsea as a cup team again. If they can get into the top four this season, I think they’d have had the biggest result ever.’
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