Arsenal and Liverpool face Isak reality as rivals offer what they can't

Arsenal and Liverpool’s dreams of signing Alexander Isak this summer could be dealt a huge blow by a rival suitor from abroad.

The Gunners’ need for a striker has seen them be frequently linked with Isak, having been interested in the Swede as far back as January 2022. Liverpool’s lack of a world-class centre-forward has also seen them emerge as a potential destination for the free-scoring Newcastle hitman.

But it appears the Premier League’s top two clubs at present are set to miss out on Isak’s services. According to RMC Sport, French champions Paris Saint-Germain, who knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League this week, are preparing an extraordinary players-plus-cash deal for the Magpies goalscorer.

Goncalo Ramos, Randal Kolo Muani and Marco Asensio are all reportedly on offer for a combined swap deal for Isak, who has a price-tag in excess of £150million. Kolo Muani and Asensio’s services are no longer needed in Paris, having been loaned out to Juventus and Aston Villa, respectively. Forward Ramos, meanwhile, can also be sacrificed if Isak goes in the opposite direction.

Muani has been in impressive form for Juventus since his January loan, scoring five goals in his first three games, while Asensio has also had an impact at Villa. That has raised their respective stocks considerably, providing PSG with useful bargaining chips as they also look to end their own centre-forward problem.

Crucially, neither Arsenal nor Liverpool would be able to match such an extravagant deal. Newcastle would naturally need a replacement for Isak, which the additions of Kolo Muani and/or Ramos could directly provide.

Arsenal, however, don’t have any forwards of note to offer, while Liverpool’s misfiring Darwin Nunez and injury prone Diogo Jota are unlikely to meet Eddie Howe’s now lofty expectations of a No. 9. Unless Newcastle have no interest in PSG's players, the English giants will therefore have to go above and beyond to secure the Swede’s signature, forking out a huge sum in a cash-only deal.

That is due to Isak having three years left on his current contract, as well as his rise this season to become one of the standout strikers in world football. The former Real Sociedad forward has scored 19 goals in the Premier League alone this season and an impressive 22 in all competitions.

His contributions have fired the Magpies into contention for Champions League qualification and into Carabao Cup final, taking place at Wembley on Sunday afternoon. Arsenal, meanwhile, have seen their lack of a clinical No. 9 hinder them in their title ambitions this term, meaning Mikel Arteta could be granted a significant war-chest come the transfer window.