Arsene Wenger has revealed the one player he would sign for Arsenal this summer if he were still at the helm: Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
The legendary former Gunners manager shared his dream transfer during a charity dinner with ex-Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman. “I asked him that question… ‘You’re the boss, who would you sign this summer?’ – Isak, he said, as quick as that,” Seaman recalled on his Seaman Says podcast.
Isak has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most lethal forwards, scoring 23 goals and providing six assists in 34 games during the 2024–25 campaign. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe recently praised the Sweden international’s “ruthless mentality,” saying, “To have the coolness of mind to just take a step back and go, ‘right, this is what I need to do’ and deliver it for the team.”
However, Arsenal face a major hurdle: Newcastle are reportedly demanding £150 million to begin negotiations. That could force the Gunners to consider alternatives, with former winger Jermaine Pennant suggesting Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins as a more affordable option.
“Everyone wants Isak, that’s obvious. But if they can’t splash £150m on him, then go and get Watkins,” Pennant told aceodds.com. “He’s got an eye for goal, he’s got pace, he’s an international and I think he would work well in Arteta’s system.”
While Mikel Arteta continues to seek the final piece of his attacking puzzle, Wenger’s endorsement of Isak sends a clear message: elite firepower could be the key to Arsenal’s next title push.