Paul Merson urges Arsenal to 'break the bank' for Arteta's No.1 transfer target

Arsenal should do whatever it takes to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle in January, according to Paul Merson.

The Gunners have aspirations of chasing down Liverpool in the second half of the season as they bid to land their first Premier League title in over 20 years, but Mikel Arteta's squad are short on firepower.

Arsenal were heavily linked with Benjamin Sesko in the summer before he signed a new deal with RB Leipzig. They have since been tipped to sign a new No.9 in the January transfer window, with Arteta refusing to rule out incomings this month.

Isak has been linked with Arsenal on more than occasion and is understood to be the striker Arteta desires more than any other, the Spaniard a huge fan of the Sweden international. He is valued at £150million by Newcastle, but that hasn't deterred Merson, who thinks he would take Arsenal to another level.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “If I was Arsenal and I had the money I would go out and buy Isak, I’d break the bank for him. I think he’s the best of the best and he takes Arsenal to another level.

“What I like about [Gabriel] Jesus is he’s got back in the team this time around and he’s gone, 'You know what, I’m going to get in the box, I need to score goals if I’m going to stay at this football team', and that’s what he’s done.

“That goal yesterday was a proper poacher’s goal. It’s very rare we say him in that six-yard box, heading them in from there. With [Kai] Havertz coming back as well, he wasn’t well, it pushes Havertz back to midfield, but Havertz, naturally as a forward, will get in the box and there’s an extra body in there. Hopefully, if Jesus can keep doing what he’s doing, they won’t have to [sign anyone], but I’m looking at the all-round picture and I’m looking at next season as well.

“I think if they can get hold of Isak, who I think is the best in the business at the moment, I think that would be a massive coup for Arsenal. Sorry, Newcastle fans!”

While Arsenal may be long-term admirers of Isak, it seems highly unlikely that their Premier League rivals would part company with the Swedish striker, who has been in red-hot form over Christmas. But his contract situation and the Magpies' PSR concerns mean a summer deal for the Swede cannot be discounted - particularly if he doesn't ink fresh terms on Tyneside.

Arsenal have also been linked with other names in the build-up to the January window, including Wolves forward Matheus Cunha. They have also been boosted by the return to form of Gabriel Jesus, who has plundered six goals over the Christmas period.

When he was asked about doing business in January on New Years Day, Arteta said: “Let’s see. If there’s an opportunity we will look at it. Let’s see how we get there. Hopefully, the squad is going to be in a much healthier position than it is right now, but who knows?

“We are prepared if we need to do something, we’re capable of doing something, but then that transfer window is very tricky and difficult to control. The opportunities are very limited but we’ll be there.”