February 17th 2025.
It seems that Barcelona is on the hunt for a new No.9 this summer, as they are looking to replace their aging striker, Robert Lewandowski. The La Liga giants have set their sights on young talent and have turned to Arsenal's top target, Alexander Isak, as their first-choice option. This comes as they expect Manchester United to secure the signing of another Swedish striker, Viktor Gyokeres.
Despite Lewandowski's impressive performance this season, with 31 goals in 33 games, Barcelona is thinking ahead and planning for the future. With one eye on the present and one on the future, they are determined to bring in a new striker to lead their attack. Under the guidance of manager Hansi Flick, the team is currently enjoying an exciting season, and a win against Rayo Vallecano on Monday night would see them surpass both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to take the top spot in La Liga.
Barcelona has also been performing well in Europe, finishing second in the revamped Champions League group phase and automatically qualifying for the knockout stages. However, replacing a modern-day great like Lewandowski will not be an easy task, and the club has identified Isak as the perfect candidate for the job. The Swedish striker, who joined Newcastle United in 2022, has been in excellent form this season, scoring 17 goals in 22 league games.
Isak's impressive performance has caught the attention of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who is desperate to sign a new striker for his team. The Gunners had expressed interest in the Swedish international during the January transfer window but were unable to secure his signature due to Newcastle's high valuation of over £100m. Although Arteta ended up signing Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, he is still interested in Isak and would be willing to revive his pursuit if Newcastle indicates a potential summer sale.
While Barcelona has also been linked with Gyokeres, they have prioritized Isak as they believe the former is destined for Manchester United. The Red Devils have been admirers of Gyokeres even before his former manager at Sporting Lisbon, took over at Old Trafford in November. However, it seems that United will also need to dip into the market for a new striker as their current options continue to struggle in front of goal.
Gyokeres has been in sensational form for Sporting, scoring 77 goals in 86 games since joining the club from Coventry City. If for some reason, Barcelona is unable to secure the signing of Isak and lose the race for Gyokeres, they have identified Lille's Canadian forward, Jonathan David, as another potential option.
Recently, former England midfielder Paul Scholes expressed his doubts about Arsenal's chances of signing Isak, stating that he is a player who deserves to play for bigger and better teams like Real Madrid or Liverpool. He believes that Isak should aim higher than Arsenal, as they are not in a position to win league titles. He also mentioned that Manchester City and Real Madrid would also be great options for the talented young striker, but unfortunately, a move to Manchester United is unlikely to happen at this time.
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