Chelsea have been urged to hijack Arsenal’s deal
Paul Merson has told Chelsea they will secure Champions League football for next season and go to ‘the next level’ if they sign Arsenal target Alexander Isak before the transfer deadline.
After going toe-to-toe with Premier League leaders Liverpool for much of the season, Chelsea now face a huge fight to secure a top-four finish after falling away since mid-December.
Enzo Marecsa’s side have only won one of their last seven league games – losing to Ipswich Town and Fulham during that period – to slip to sixth in the table, one point outside the top-four and some 16 points behind Liverpool.
Big-spending Chelsea have endured a subdued January transfer window but there is still time for the club to bolster Maresca’s squad before the deadline on Monday night.
Chelsea expressed interest in signing Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and remain in the race for Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel along with a number of Premier League rivals.
Merson believes the shock signing of Isak from Newcastle United would take Chelsea to ‘the next level’ and all but guarantee the Blues a top-four finish.
Isak, who has scored 18 goals in his last 19 appearances, has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in January and Merson says the Sweden international has the potential to fire the Gunners to Premier League glory.
Magpies boss Eddie Howe is reluctant to lose Isak and St James’ Park bosses have slapped an asking price of more than £100m for the striker.
‘We’re talking about the best centre-forward in the league right now in Alexander Isak,’ Merson 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. The same goes for Chelsea, it will seal that top four place and take them to the next level.’
Mikel Arteta is a known admirer of Isak but Arsenal have turned to another Premier League striker in the back-end of the transfer window.
The Gunners saw their opening offer for England international Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa and are considering returning with an improved bid.
Responding to Arsenal’s move for Watkins, Merson added: ‘I personally think Arsenal’s bid for Ollie Watkins was just a farce!
‘They knew they aren’t getting him for that money and they just put in the offer to show the fans they’re trying.
‘Watkins would be an outstanding signing for Arsenal though. He ticks all the boxes. Don’t worry about him being 29, it’s the here and now that matters the most.
‘If Arsenal get Watkins, they can win the league this year or maybe in the next. So they shouldn’t be worried about where he will be in four years’ time.’
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