Paul Scholes has urged Alexander Isak to reject a summer move to Arsenal in favour of ‘bigger and better’ opportunities.
The Swedish striker is enjoying a stellar campaign with Newcastle, netting 19 goals in 28 matches in all competitions so far this season.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has long been an admirer of the former Real Sociedad star and the Gunners have been linked with a move in recent years.
But Scholes has fired a few digs at his former rivals and urged the 25-year-old to snub a move to Emirates because the north Londoners will not be able to satisfy his desire for major honours.
‘Everyone loves him but I don’t see a possibility of him going to Arsenal,’ said the Manchester United legend on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘He needs to go bigger and better. We’re talking about Real Madrid here, Liverpool need a centre forward. I think Arsenal would be an option but I think they would be down the list of options.
Alexander Isak is enjoying a stellar campaign with Newcastle and is attracting interest from clubs around Europe
Mikel Arteta has long been an admirer of the 25-year-old Swedish striker and has been linked with a swoop
Paul Scholes believes that Isak should snub the interest of the Gunners in favour of better opportunities elsewhere
‘I don’t mean that in a bad way but he’s at Newcastle, a really good team, a brilliant team, but they’re not going to win league titles, that’s the next stage of his career. I think it would be a risk to go to Arsenal and do the same thing.
‘Liverpool have got a much better chance, Man City and Real Madrid the same. I think his sights should be higher than Arsenal. He is a player Man United would be looking at but in the position we’re in now… it’s not going to happen.’
It comes at a time when the Gunners’ attacking options have been criticised, with many claiming Arteta needs to sign a top class striker to take his side to the next level.
The Spaniard had hoped to bring in attacking additions in January and admitted he was left ‘disappointed’ by their failure to sign a forward.
The Magpies will likely demand a British-record fee for their talisman if he is to leave in the summer. In fact, Mail Sport exclusively revealed last month that Arsenal will not be able to afford what it would cost to bring Isak to the Emirates.
Newcastle sources insist there is no asking price for a player they want to keep at St James’ Park, but it would almost certainly take a fee in excess of the British record £115m Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo if he were to leave.
Isak’s situation on Tyneside is not straightforward. He is already the club’s top earner and has a contract until 2028. However, there is no doubt a player of his calibre could demand a higher wage elsewhere.
For now, Newcastle are unable to improve his contract status because of PSR, but a return to the Champions League would likely change that stance come the summer. It would also provide the player with the platform of the top European competition he desires.
