Chelsea tipped to make ‘huge bid’ for Arsenal transfer target
A former Chelsea striker has tipped the Blues to make a ‘huge transfer bid’ for Arsenal target Alexander Isak during the January transfer window.
The Gunners have been repeatedly linked with a move for Newcastle United star Isak, who is valued at more than £100m by the Magpies.
Isak has been a consistent performer ever since he arrived at St James’ Park from Real Sociedad – scoring 44 goals in 70 Premier League games for Newcastle.
But Isak is currently enjoying a particularly fruitful spell in front of goal, netting 14 goals in his last 15 games to help Newcastle climb to fifth in the Premier League, just one point off the Champions League places.
Given the numbers involved, a January move for Isak seems unlikely, though ex-Chelsea striker Pat Nevin has tipped his former club to launch a stunning move.
Chelsea are enduring a wobble following a sensational first-half to the season, with goals suddenly becoming hard to come by and Nicolas Jackson missing a number of chances.
While Nevin ‘would not be surprised’ if Chelsea made a ‘huge bid’ for Isak, he believes Arsenal would be the perfect club for the Sweden international.
‘I would not be surprised if Chelsea made a huge bid for Alexander Isak this January if they get any sort of hint that he is available,’ Nevin told Grosvenor Sport.
‘Chelsea would love him. Having said that, I think he would be the best possible fit for Arsenal and if I was him I would be looking at that.
‘Style-wise and technique-wise, can you imagine him playing in front of Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, it would be scary.
‘Manchester United might also be involved if they hear that he is available, but I can’t imagine how Eddie Howe would feel about letting him go.’
Discussing Chelsea’s recent struggles and Jackson’s dip in form, Nevin added: ‘They were never in title contention in my mind.
‘I was quite bullish in saying I thought they would finish in the top four before the season had started because things ended alright under Mauricio Pochettino last season.
‘The maturity of some of the younger players was becoming a bit more obvious and they’ve obviously got some very decent players given the money they have spent. I certainly thought they would be challenging.
‘Enzo Maresca has been right in saying there is still maturing to be done and that his players still need to learn, but their recent form could come down to something as simple as Nicolas Jackson missing his chances.
‘His movement is good but those chances can change the games, it’s not quite as simple as just that but they’d still be cruising if he scored two or three more goals.’
Nevin also reckons Chelsea will offload ‘four or five’ first-team players in January to raise some cash for incoming signings.
The Blues emerged as genuine title contenders under Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement Enzo Maresca but have slipped to fourth – 10 points behind Liverpool – after a four-game winless run.
‘Chelsea are a trading club so they will be looking at every position in January,’ ex-Scotland international Nevin said.
‘They have an outlook of trading players and the American sports outlook will be that eventually everything will fall into place.
‘I think Chelsea will get rid of four or five players in January and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are decent sized names.
‘I don’t think it would raise eyebrows with Chelsea fans either because they’ve seen the club make money that way.
‘Chelsea could make about £80m back and that would give them a chance of signing a big name player and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a striker.
‘Christopher Nkunku could well be one of the players to leave and not because he isn’t good enough, just because that’s the way Chelsea do business.’
Following four league games without a win, Chelsea bounced back in some style on Saturday, thrashing Morecambe 5-0 to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.