In a recent press conference, Mikel Merino, the new signing for Arsenal, expressed a desire to reunite with his former Real Sociedad teammates under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta.
Merino highlighted how the trio once dominated La Liga together and urged Arteta to help bring the third member of their former group to Arsenal.
This has fueled speculation that Arsenal could be looking to sign another former Real Sociedad player, possibly to bolster their chances of competing for the Premier League title.
Arsenal is currently exploring the possibility of signing Alexander Isak, who is currently at Newcastle United.
Isak is seen as a top priority for Arsenal because he has already proven himself in the Premier League, unlike some of the other strikers Arsenal has been considering.
These other options include Viktor Gyökeres, Victor Osimhen, Joshua Zirkzee, and Benjamin Šeško.
However, Isak’s experience in the Premier League gives him an edge over these alternatives.
Newcastle, on the other hand, is determined to keep Isak at the club.
They are reportedly looking to enter negotiations for a new contract with the Swedish international, who has earned 44 caps for his country.
The club is considering offering him a pay rise and including a release clause in his new deal.
This comes at a time when Newcastle is facing the challenge of a 20% salary reduction for all players due to their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Despite this, the club seems willing to make an exception for Isak, underscoring his importance to the team.
However, there is still speculation that a significant offer could tempt Newcastle to sell Isak.
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness suggested that a bid in the region of £100 million might be enough to convince Newcastle to part with their star striker.
Wyness praised Isak as a “high-quality finisher” and noted that he would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s attacking lineup.
He did acknowledge, however, that Isak has had some injury issues, although he has shown his quality when fit.
In addition to their interest in Isak, Arsenal has also been linked with Ajax striker Brian Brobbey.
The 22-year-old Dutch international had a prolific season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions, which has attracted interest from both Arsenal and Manchester United.
During a Q&A session on TikTok, Brobbey indicated that it would take a fee of €80 million (£68 million) to lure him away from Ajax.
While Brobbey expressed a preference for joining Manchester United in the future, specifically under the management of his former coach Erik ten Hag, he did not rule out the possibility of moving to other clubs, leaving the door open for a potential transfer to Arsenal.
As the summer transfer window draws to a close, Arsenal’s pursuit of a new striker remains a critical focus.
Securing a deal for Isak or another top target like Brobbey could be pivotal in shaping Arsenal’s attacking options for the upcoming season.
The decisions made in these final days of the transfer window could significantly impact Arsenal’s chances of success in both domestic and European competitions.