The Hard Tackle takes a look at three potential destinations for Alexander Isak, who has been linked with a Premier League move.
A latest report from Spanish news outlet Fichajes has offered a useful update on the future of Alexander Isak. The Real Sociedad striker was heavily linked with a move away from the club, earlier this summer, after turning a lot of heads with his performances in La Liga and European Championship.
Isak was even courted by the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, but a move never really materialized. The player instead ended up signing a contract extension at Real Sociedad, who were unhappy with the valuation of his previous release clause worth €70 million.
The deal also included a clause that would have let his former club Borussia Dortmund to re-sign the youngster. But as an act of blessing, the Bundesliga giants opted not to exercise the right, which otherwise would have been a bargain.
It gave Sociedad the opportunity to renew Isak’s contract with an updated €90 million release clause. But that hasn’t deterred suitors from exploring the possibility to sign Isak in the upcoming transfer window, with the report claiming that there are a few English clubs who are tracking the progress of the Swedish international.
It has been established that Isak’s spell at Real Sociedad will soon come to an end, but where will the attacker move next? Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will take a look at three Premier League clubs that could emerge as a potential destination for the talented forward next season or even the upcoming January transfer window.
Arsenal
Arsenal were among Isak’s top suitors during the summer transfer window but a move never really materialized due to finances as well as the fact that the Gunners were far more interested in addressing the club’s defensive problems, notably bringing in the likes of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Nuno Tavares.
As for the attacking department, they stayed put with Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah while promoting Folarin Balogun to the first-team setup. But it is time to soon move on and reshape the offensive unit that has struggled to find the back of the net on a consistent basis, under Mikel Arteta.
Lacazette’s current contract at Emirates expires at the end of the season while Aubameyang has never been the same under Arteta. Nketiah, too, doesn’t have many prospects in the first-team and will likely be offloaded in January, thus accentuating the need for a quality centre-forward.
Isak fits the bill perfectly having had immense success for both club and country over the past few years. At Sociedad, the forward has already netted 33 goals in 92 competitive appearances, emerging as one of La Liga’s most talented attacking players.
The former Dortmund man could be an ideal fit for Arsenal for multiple reasons, including his technical ability that goes hand in hand in with Arteta’s tactical setup. He can link up attackers in the final third and use quick link-up play to create opportunities for his team.
But perhaps more importantly, Isak, standing at 1.92m, is no slouch when it comes to physical duels. He can more than hold his own in a physical one-on-one, which is something the current crop of Arsenal forwards simply doesn’t have. And with that in mind, the Swedish international could certainly be an ideal fit for the Gunners, though they have to offload Aubameyang or Lacazette first, in order to afford the youngster.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur are another potential destination for Alexander Isak as he seeks to take the next step in his career. Much like Arsenal, the North London giants are awaiting a massive overhaul in the offensive unit, with star striker Harry Kane’s situation likely to rear its head again next year.
The English international’s exit would leave a massive void in the club’s attacking unit, one which Son Heung-Min alone won’t be able to fill. And that is where Isak could be a handy option to have for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
During his time with Wolves, the Portuguese tactician has shown that his team can thrive under the leadership of a tall, imposing striker. Isak is no different to Raul Jimenez and can even offer better technical support in the final third.
While the former Dortmund starlet is certainly not as dominant in the air as the Mexican, at the age of 21, he has a lot of time to improve his game and eventually emerge as the ideal leader for Tottenham’s attacking unit, one who will them steer forward in the era under Nuno and Paratici.
Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, they are not in a position to make a move for Isak in the upcoming winter transfer window and may have to wait until summer, if they sanction the sale of Kane. It could potentially put them behind in the race to sign the 21-year-old, but the youngster certainly has what it takes to become a protagonist in the club’s offensive unit for the years to come.
Liverpool
Liverpool are the only realistic title challengers in this list who can potentially target Isak in the upcoming winter transfer window.
The Reds have endured a stale summer window, where they only managed to sign Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig. So one would imagine they are prepared to splash the cash in January and the money will likely be spent on an attacker, given their lack of depth in the said department.
Indeed, the club desperately requires an alternative for Roberto Firmino, who has struggled to find goals consistently while the recent injury to Harvey Elliott has left Jurgen Klopp short-handed, as far as their attacking depth is concerned. Not to mention, the Reds had earlier offloaded fringe players like Taiwo Awoniyi and Xherdan Shaqiri.
For this reason, the Merseyside giants have been linked with a swoop for RB Salzburg’s Karim Adeyemi, but Isak could represent far more effective option due to his quality and experience, which even makes him an ideal upgrade over Firmino.
From a tactical perspective, Isak should be a perfect catalyst for Liverpool’s offensive productivity, especially with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota creating opportunities at every turn. And at the age of just 21, the Swede has a future ahead of him and could be a smart long-term investment for the Merseysiders.