Arsenal chasing 'the next Thierry Henry' in £100m deal, following previous talks: report

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaks to all-time scorer Thierry Henry prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 28, 2023 in London, England.
(Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal are looking to bring in a £100 million superstar compared to Thierry Henry.

Despite being the league's leaders in terms of goals scored this season, the Gunners have struggled up front. Kai Havertz has emerged as the first-choice striker up front for Mikel Arteta, with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah suffering with injury and bad form between them.

With Jesus playing wide against Manchester City at the weekend, Arteta gave his clearest indication yet that he would rather see a more physical threat centrally – and he could get his wish this summer, in the form of a nine-figure signing.

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Arsenal FC at Gtech Community Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Arsenal seemingly want to improve on Gabriel Jesus (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Sun claims that Arsenal are to battle bitter foes Tottenham Hotspur for Swedish striker Alexander Isak amid worries at Newcastle United of keeping the right side of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). 

Isak – who has frequently been compared with French legend Thierry Henry – joined the Magpies for a club record fee in August 2022 and has been a palpable hit in the northeast – but it's believed that Newcastle could be open to a sale. Bruno Guimaraes, for example, has a £100m release clause with the Toon believed to want to accept a similar fee for Isak. 

Arsenal held talks with Isak mere months before he signed for Newcastle, but with the 24-year-old costing almost double what the north Londoners spent on Gabriel Jesus, Arteta and Co. seemingly couldn't justify the outlay on a Real Sociedad forward unproven in English football. 

Newcastle player Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring the third goal from the penalty spot during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Sunderland and Newcastle United at Stadium of Light on January 06, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Alexander Isak has been excellent for Newcastle (Image credit: Getty Images)

While the rumours are likely to have some truth in them, however, Eddie Howe has reiterated his desire to keep Isak. In FourFourTwo's view, Isak is likely to be one of several options on Arsenal's radar – but the cost of having to potentially double Isak's reported £120,000-a-week wage, on top of a nine-figure transfer fee, may price him out of a move. 

Isak is valued at €70m by Transfermarkt

More Arsenal stories

Arsenal have a 10-man shortlist in their hunt for a new striker – but can expect a bidding war for one star on their books. It looks, however, like Jorginho might leave

The chances of signing Matthijs De Ligt have risen, while one AFCON winner has been linked. Meanwhile, Declan Rice has spoken out about Ben White's decision not to play for England

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.

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