Barcelona plot IMPOSSIBLE swoop for Arsenal target

Updated: 23 Apr 2024 11:32 BST
4 min read

Joan Laporta, Barcelona, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Barcelona hope to sign Alexander Isak, according to a report.

The striker is one of the standouts at Newcastle United every week and is being linked to Arsenal. In Catalunya, the Swede is seen as a potential successor to Robert Lewandowski.

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Barcelona are hoping that Newcastle will be inclined to sell the 24-year-old forward in order to comply with the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The FFP rules were introduced by UEFA and stipulate that clubs may not spend more than they earn in a three-year period. PSR was introduced by the Premier League and allows clubs to make a maximum loss of £105 million, equivalent to around €121.6m, over a three-year period.

STATS

34

Games
21

Goals
1

Assists

Lewandowski's successor?

It is expected that Isak will cost around €104m and the reigning national champions of Spain are reportedly willing to pay this, claims The Sun. This would make him by far Newcastle's most expensive outgoing transfer ever. That record is currently held by Andy Carroll, who infamously went to Liverpool for €41m.

Barcelona are looking for a successor to Lewandowski, who will turn 36 in four months and is less productive this season than last year. In 43 matches, the Pole has scored 20 goals and recorded 9 assists.

Last season, the 148-time international (82 goals) managed to find the net 33 times in 46 matches and provided 8 assists. His contract runs until mid-2026, but Saudi Arabia is again showing concrete interest in him.

There are several problems with Barcelona's interest. Arsenal are also said to be looking at Isak, though Viktor Gyokeres is their priority target, while fresh links to Dusan Vlahovic have also surfaced recently. The even bigger issue as far as Barca are concerned is the fact that they have no money.

The Blaugrana would have to pull off some major sales to even be able to think about signing Isak, who has thus far shown no indication that he is willing to leave. In fact, it is thought that Newcastle will only entertain offers for Bruno Guimaraes, not Isak.