Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Alexander Isak to Arsenal transfer truth emerges as Stan Kroenke makes bombshell decision

by · football.london

Arsenal cannot afford the British-record transfer fee for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, it has been claimed.

Newcastle are reported to have added an extra £20million to Isak's price tag, bumping the asking price to £170m. That fee is unreachable for Arsenal as they look to comply with the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Sources say owner Stan Kroenke is 'extremely unlikely' to complete a move for the Swedish striker, according to the Daily Mail. The Gunners spent around £100m last summer, signing David Raya, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori.

But also recouped roughly £90m from selling Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe.

football.london understands, though, that their lack of offensive signings is unlikely to change this transfer window. The Mail adds Arsenal will listen to offers for Gabriel Jesus at the end of the season while there is a possibility Oleksandr Zinchenko could leave this month.

Thomas Partey is also coming to the end of his contract in the summer and Arsenal would be willing to take his reported £150,000-a-week wage off the books. Although Arsenal are said to not have any worries when it comes to PSR, they still have to stay within them.

As a result, that rules out a move for Isak - for now. Mikel Arteta remains a huge admirer of the 25-year-old but unless there was a significant departure from the Emirates, there will reportedly not be an offer this summer.

Isak is the highest earner on Tyneside though a player of his calibre could demand a higher wage elsewhere. Newcastle might not be able to meet his demands because of PSR but a return to the Champions League could change that in the summer.


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