Arsenal warned off £100m transfer target by club legend

Arsenal have been linked with a blockbuster mover for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, but Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit doesn’t think it would be a good idea.

Isak has caught the eye at Newcastle since joining from Real Sociedad in a €70 million transfer in August 2020, and this season has 15 goals from 23 Premier League outings for Eddie Howe’s side.

Kai Havertz has hit a rich vein of form up front for Arsenal, but acquiring another striker would free him up to operate in more than one position, depending on the opponent.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer rumours

Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus, to more natural No.9s, have underwhelmed this season, and it would appear to make sense that Mikel Arteta would like to bolster his options in the position.

But Petit, a Premier League winner with Arsenal in 1998 as part of a fearsome midfield pairing with Patrick Vieira, thinks his former employers would be making a mistake.

‘Players outside England could have same impact’

“£100 million for Alexander Isak? Come on…” he told Genting Casino. “Spending that amount of money on someone like Declan Rice is understandable because it’s guaranteed Rice was going to do well and put in the effort. I’m not so sure about Isak.

“I don’t think it would be a good decision by Arsenal to buy Isak for a big price. Arsenal’s transfer policy is very good, and they should keep their policy rather than fund clubs like Chelsea, Newcastle or those kinds of clubs.

READ MORE: Arsenal’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time

“Arsenal shouldn’t splash their money like that. Isak would be a good addition to the squad, but there are players outside of England that could have the same impact.”

Isak is valued at €51.5m by FootballTransfers’ in-house algorithm, with an ETV of €58m, so Arsenal would be paying over the odds if they met Newcastle’s reported £100m (€117m) asking price.