Paul Scholes says Mikel Arteta transfer target is ‘bigger and better’ than Arsenal
Paul Scholes has warned Mikel Arteta that one of his top transfer targets, Alexander Isak, is ‘bigger and better’ than Arsenal.
Arsenal have long been linked with a move for the Sweden international, who has taken his game to another level this season, scoring 17 goals in the Premier League alone.
The Gunners expressed interest in signing a new striker during the January transfer window but were priced out of a deal for Isak, who Newcastle value at more than £100m.
Arteta was interested in bringing England striker Ollie Watkins to the Emirates Stadium but the Gunners failed with a late move for the Aston Villa man.
Arsenal are now expected to spend big for a new goalscorer in the summer, with Isak still believed to be one of Arteta’s top targets along with RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.
But Manchester United and England legend Scholes cannot see Isak moving to Arsenal and says he can target a ‘bigger and better’ move.
‘Everyone loves him but I don’t see a possibility of him going to Arsenal,’ Scholes said on The Overlap. ‘He needs to go bigger and better.
‘We’re talking about Real Madrid here, Liverpool need a centre forward. I think Arsenal would be an option but I think they would be down the list of options.
‘I don’t mean that in a bad way but he’s at Newcastle, a really good team, a brilliant team, but they’re not going to win league titles, that’s the next stage of his career.
‘I think it would be a risk to go to Arsenal and do the same thing. Liverpool have got a much better chance, Man City and Real Madrid the same.
‘I think his sights should be higher than Arsenal. He is a player Man United would be looking at but in the position we’re in now… it’s not going to happen.’
Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher then pressed Scholes on whether he believes Isak is ‘better than Arsenal’.
Scholes responded: ‘Yeah. I agree he takes Arsenal to another level, he would be brilliant and he could possibly get you over the line. But I just think there’s bigger and better in him.’
Benjamin Sesko has also been linked with a move to Arsenal
Arsenal were one of the few Premier League clubs not to make any signings during the January transfer window.
Speaking after the market closed, Arteta admitted he was ‘disappointed’ by the lack of additions but praised the club’s discipline.
‘We had a clear intention which is always when a window opens to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can make an impact,’ he said.
‘With players injured, we’ve been impacted and we haven’t achieved it. We are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well. I think that we were.
‘It’s in the profile, a player that we believe can make us much better. Financially there is a lot of ways, a lot of things that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there try to improve.’
Arsenal were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United last week, losing 4-0 across the two semi-final legs.
Arteta’s side, six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, return to action on Saturday against Leicester City.
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