Arsenal can hijack Alexander Isak to Liverpool transfer with Mikel Arteta's £186m secret weapon

Arsenal have a secret weapon in the race to sign Alexander Isak. The Newcastle United striker was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium before Andrea Berta wrapped up a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

football.london understands that the Gunners were - once - interested in signing Isak, but he was deemed simply too expensive. Ahead of the summer transfer window, the Magpies insisted that the Sweden international was not for sale.

The Tyneside outfit wanted to fend off interest in Isak, so they placed an eye-watering price tag worth £150m on his name. While Arsenal took their business elsewhere, signing Gyokeres from Sporting for £64m, Liverpool stuck around.

It's understood that the Premier League champions had a £110m bid knocked back earlier this month, while it remains to be seen whether or not they'll submit a second offer. In the meantime, Isak has effectively been on strike, training on his own and away from the first team at Darsley Park.

Unsurprisingly, he was not in the matchday squad for Newcastle's clash against Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the new season. Then, on Tuesday night, Isak broke his silence - with a statement on Instagram.

The Sweden frontman explained why wasn't in attendance at the Professional Footballers' Association's awards night, where he was named in the Premier League's Team of the Season. Isak also explained he 'can't continue' at Newcastle following 'broken promises' and 'lost trust'.

According to The Athletic, Liverpool still want to sign Isak, despite the feeling that 'an improved second bid would be futile'. The report claims that the player is yet to submit an official transfer request, though the writing is already on the wall at St. James' Park.

If Mikel Arteta really wanted to snatch Isak from under Arne Slot's nose, then he could ask Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi to put in a good word. The trio, who cost Arsenal a combined £122m, played with Isak at Real Sociedad.

Speaking to CBS in 2021, Merino revealed just how popular the striker was in the club's dressing room. The Spain international, who also played with Isak at Borussia Dortmund, said: "I think he's a great player.

"I have the luck of being with him in Dortmund as well, we were there together for six months and when he came here to La Real I was really surprised.

"I was really happy to see him, and we could talk a lot about our time in Dortmund. Right now, he's a big, big piece for us, he's doing great he's adapting really, really good here, everybody loves him in the dressing room.

"I think he speaks Spanish perfect, so that talks very good about him, the way he wants to adapt here, the way he's so serious about his job and about not only football, but you know being a good teammate, being a professional."

Then, following Isak's switch to Newcastle a year later, Merino told The Athletic: "Alex has already started well. His mindset is very good. He can adapt to whatever you tell him.

"When he came here, he had to adapt to a very specific system of playing where he had a specific role to make exact movements when the ball was in a certain position.

"Being from Sweden and being able to adapt showed how smart he is. With his abilities, his speed and strength, the Premier League is a good place for him. He'll be great for the Magpies."

Odegaard has been just as complimentary of Isak in the past, describing him as a 'fantastic player'. Speaking to Fotboll Skanalen earlier this year about the Swede and how he compares to Erling Haaland, the Arsenal captain said: "Both are good in and around the box and score a lot of goals.

"They are a little different in their style of play, but both are dangerous goal-scorers. I have been lucky enough to play with both of them and found it enjoyable.

"If you look at what Erling has done and the records, he sets all the time, it speaks for itself. But it is clear that Isak has had a very good season and is a fantastic player."

Gyokeres could also put in a good word for Arteta if Arsenal want to lock horns with Liverpool over Isak.

Speaking to The Guardian in March 2025, Johnny Gustafsson - who coached the Newcastle pler at under-16 and under‑17 levels - even claimed the Arsenal striker is a big fan.

"They also say he's exactly the same person," he said. "His success has not changed him at all..."