Barcelona have reportedly set their sights on Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak as a potential alternative for primary transfer target Erling Haaland.
According to a report from Spanish publication MARCA, La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are eyeing a summer swoop for Real Sociedad’s Swedish centre-forward Alexander Isak as a cost-effective alternative for top target, Erling Haaland.
Heading into the summer transfer window, there is no denying that Barcelona are in desperate need of a new striker, after having failed to replace Luis Suarez last year. Martin Braithwaite is the only out-and-out centre-forward at Ronald Koeman’s disposal, and he too is at best a squad option, which has left captain Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann to do a lot of the heavy-lifting in front of goal.
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With Messi’s contract expiring at the end of the season and no signs of a renewal forthcoming as of yet, it becomes imperative that Barcelona add another consistent source of goals to their attacking unit. This has seen the Blaugrana identify Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund as their primary transfer target and rightly so, considering the form that the Norwegian has been in over the past 18 months or so.
In fact, recent reports have even claimed that Barcelona have lodged a mega offer to secure the 20-year-old’s signing from Borussia Dortmund. However, given the number of clubs interested in Haaland and his massive valuation, it is only prudent that the Catalans have a Plan B in place should their pursuit of the former RB Salzburg man fail to yield the desired result.
And that is where Isak enters the picture. The 21-year-old arrived at Real Sociedad in the summer of 2019 from Dortmund and has made steady progress over his near two-year stint in Spain. So far in the 2020/21 campaign, he has managed an impressive tally of 14 goals and 2 assists from 32 La Liga appearances.
The report goes on to claim that Isak is someone that Barcelona have been tracking for quite some time now and had even attempted to sign him up prior to bringing in Braithwaite. And should they fail to secure Haaland’s signing, the Cules will once again turn their focus towards the Swedish international forward.
Even though Barcelona are said to be closing in on the signing of Memphis Depay on a free transfer, the Dutchman can play out wide and shouldn’t hinder Isak’s arrival or development should he end up joining the Catalan giants. The 21-year-old is contracted with Sociedad till the summer of 2024 and it now remains to be seen if he does end up at Camp Nou come next season.
