Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal transfer target would rather join Liverpool

Jamie Carragher has warned Mikel Arteta that Arsenal transfer target Alexander Isak would ‘surely’ rather join Liverpool if he was to leave Newcastle United. Isak has established himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League this season, scoring 19 goals in all competitions to help Newcastle challenge for the Champions League places and reach the Carabao Cup final. The Sweden international has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal over the past 12 months, with Gunners boss Arteta a known admirer.

Arteta tried to sign a new striker during the January transfer window but Arsenal failed with a bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and were put off by Newcastle’s huge valuation for Isak. Having kept their powder dry in January, Arsenal will surely spend big on a new goalscorer in the summer and are expected to revive their interest in £130m-rated Isak. But Carragher is baffled by the intense speculation linking Isak with Arsenal and believes the 25-year-old could look to join a club like Liverpool instead of the Gunners.

Liverpool are on course to win the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield and will move nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal if they beat Merseyside rivals Everton on Wednesday night. ‘You know the talk about Isak. There’s a lot of talk about Isak,’ ex-England defender Carragher said on The Overlap. ‘There’s a feeling that Arsenal are going to sign him or that they need to sign him. As an Arsenal fan, do you think that’s realistic?.

‘He’s got three years left on his contract. Liverpool are desperate for a centre forward as well but there’s no talk of Liverpool getting him. ‘So I don’t know where all this talk of Arsenal signing Isak is coming from. Liverpool need one as well and if they win the league and Isak was going to leave, surely you pick the team who wins the league. ‘I don’t get it. It’s not realistic for Arsenal, is it? Are Arsenal paying £130m for him?’.

Isak has scored 54 goals in 95 appearances for Newcastle United since his £63m move from La Liga side Real Sociedad in 2022. Paul Merson rates Isak as the ‘best centre forward in the Premier League right now’ and says he would take Arsenal to the Premier League title. ‘We’re talking about the best centre-forward in the league right now in Alexander Isak,’ the Gunners legend recently told Sportskeeda. ‘His goals and contributions have been mightily impressive.

‘The thing with Isak is that he is consistently good. Some players score 10 goals in 10 games and there would have been two hat-tricks in there. ‘But Isak is someone who scores in every single game and that makes him the best out there. ‘There is no doubt that all the top clubs will want to sign him. With Financial Fair Play (FFP) also coming into the picture, it will be interesting to see if Newcastle can hold on to him.

‘If Arsenal signed Isak, I would be shocked if they don’t end up winning the Premier League.’. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Arrow MORE: How Marcus Rashford reacted to Jadon Sancho’s controversial ‘freedom’ message. Arrow MORE: Arsenal considering move for ‘electrifying’ £71m striker in next summer transfer window.