Arsenal are exploring the option of making a move for Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak this month, football.london understands.
We brought you the news on Monday afternoon that the Gunners are unlikely to wrap up a deal to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina between now and the end of the transfer window, so the north London club are considering two other options: Isak and Jonathan David.
The former, Isak, only signed a new contract with Sociedad last summer after interest from Arsenal, but in that deal, there is said to be a €90million (£75million) release clause. However, the Gunners are likely to negotiate with the Spanish club to try and force that price down.
Isak has been at Sociedad since making the £13.5million switch from Borussia Dortmund back in the summer of 2019 and has flourished during his time at the Reale Arena.
In that time, he spent a season - the 2019/20 campaign - playing alongside Arsenal star Martin Odegaard, who spent a term on loan at Sociedad from Real Madrid.
Odegaard, during that season, assisted Isak on four separate occasions in all competitions, with the duo forming quite the relationship on the pitch. Well, judging by Isak's comments from 2019, they really got on away from football, also, with the striker describing the Arsenal man as his "best friend".
"We have a very good contact and thrive well together. He is natural that he will be my best friend on the team. He was well known as a cult to have him on the same," Isak said.
What has Isak said on his future?
Isak has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time now and last year, the Sweden international dropped a huge hint that he wants to play in England some day.
Speaking to The Independent, the striker said: "I am in a good place at the moment, I am very happy, but one day it would be nice to play in England as well.
"They have six or seven of the biggest clubs in the world, it is a very high level, and of course one day it would be an alternative. Every player wants to be the best version of themselves and reach the highest possible level.
"I have expectations for myself that I’m trying to fulfil, so we’ll see where the journey takes me in future."
