Arsenal are reportedly monitoring the development of Real Sociedad centre-forward Alexander Isak ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to a report from The Athletic, Premier League bigwigs Arsenal are keeping tabs on Real Sociedad’s Swedish striker Alexander Isak with technical director Edu and his recruitment team said to be great admirers of the youngster.
Isak came through the youth ranks at Swedish club AIK and made quite the impression at a very young age, leading to a high-profile transfer to Borussia Dortmund in January 2017. The move, however, did pan out as envisioned, with the young striker struggling to establish a foothold in the first-team at Signal Iduna Park.
Having managed to make just 13 senior appearances for the Black and Yellows, Isak departed to Dutch side Willem II on loan in January 2019 and enjoyed a prolific six-month stint which prompted La Liga outfit Real Sociedad to invest in him in the subsequent summer. Since arriving in Spain, the 21-year-old has thrived, bagging 33 goals and 5 assists in 89 appearances for La Real.
The 2020/21 campaign was particularly a productive one for Isak as he impressed with a tally of 17 goals in 34 La Liga matches, which included strikes against the likes of Sevilla, Villarreal, Real Betis and Valencia. A regular for the Swedish national team, the young forward has 22 international caps, with five goals.
Isak’s progress over the past couple of years in Spain hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Barcelona among the clubs that have been credited with an interest in him in the recent past. Now, Arsenal, too, have emerged as a suitor for the 21-year-old, with The Athletic claiming that the Gunners’ recruitment team rating him very highly.
Arsenal, as things stand, have as many as four centre-forwards in their midst, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette supplemented by the academy duo of Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun. However, both Lacazette and Nketiah are entering the final year of their respective contracts with the Gunners this summer.
In fact, Nketiah looks set to be offloaded before the next season, with the youngster’s services being offered to Leeds United as per recent claims. With Aubameyang and Lacazette going through an underwhelming campaign last time out and Balogun still lacking the exposure at the highest level, a new centre-forward could be a shrewd addition at the Emirates.
Isak, to that end, would be a viable target for Arsenal, although the report does mention that the club is not prioritising a move for a new striker at the moment. But if they should do so, the young Swede is expected to close to the top of the preference order. It now remains to be seen if the north London giants decide to act on their reported interest in Isak this summer.
