Arsenal icon Alan Smith has advised Mikel Arteta on how to upgrade the Gunners’ centre-forward options.
Arsenal icon Alan Smith has urged the club to sell two players to fund a move for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
The Swede has been a revelation this season, scoring 19 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies.
Arsenal are in need of a striker to boost their title challenge, and Isak is seen as the ideal candidate; however, Newcastle are unlikely to sell the forward for anything less than £150m.
What Smith said about Isak
That figure would be a significant outlay for Arsenal, who may need to sell some players to raise funds.
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Smith believes Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are two players who could be sold to free up some cash.
"Gabriel Jesus got injured again after that spell of scoring goals. He'll know better than me but we probably need to sell in order to free up money to buy and Arteta's got to decide who he could get out of the door to get more money," said Smith in an interview with AceOdds.com.
"Zinchenko, doesn't get a game these days. The two lads from Man City. When Man City are allowing title rivals to have a couple of players you wonder why they are allowing that. We've probably seen the reason over the last two years."
Smith believes that signing Isak would be a major boost for Arsenal's title hopes, stating that the striker would add goals and creativity to the team and help them challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title.
"Well I think Alexander Isak would probably be the number one target because he's succeeded in the Premier League," he admitted.
"There wouldn't be any settling down period where you're getting used to the league. He's at a good age as well - mid 20s - and he showed it in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semis, what a fine player he is.
"I think you need to bring in somebody who's technically very good, someone who's able to fit into that Arsenal way and also of course somebody who's going to score goals.
“You look at the goals scored last season by Arsenal. It wasn't deficient, it was only a few behind Man City, the title winners, without a centre forward.”
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can afford to sign Isak, even if success would be a major coup for the club.
What next for Arsenal?
Arteta’s men travel to Girona in midweek for Champions League action before returning to the Premier League against Manchester City on February 2.