Arsenal €120m bid 'intention' as Andrea Berta eyes marquee signing

Arsenal ‘intend’ on bidding €120 million for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak this summer as Andrea Berta is tasked with finding the solution to the striking problem at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have suffered with injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz this season but the need for extra firepower was plain to see even before then. Former Atletico Madrid chief Berta is stepping into the technical director role left vacant by Edu and it will be his job to broker the perfect transfer for Arsenal.

Berta has signed the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa and Luis Suarez in the past so clearly knows a source of goals when he sees one. In a fresh report from Spanish outlet Fichajes this week, it appears that Berta will look no further than a Premier League striker already hotly linked with a move to St James’ Park.

Arsenal prepare €120 million transfer bid

That is Isak, who was on target in the Carabao Cup final on Saturday as the Magpies lifted a historic trophy. The Swedish international has long been reported as an Arsenal transfer target and now the report claims that the Gunners know how much they will offer Newcastle United this summer.

Fichajes holds that fee at €120 million, which is equivalent to £100 million. It’s claimed that Arsenal ‘hold the intention of making a bid that is difficult to turn down’ on Tyneside with €120 million said to be a figure hoped to be enough to woo Newcastle United.

The outlet does add that the process won’t be ‘simple’ but that Isak could be open to a switch despite Newcastle United having just guaranteed European football for next season. Negotiations are predicted to intensify at the end of the season with ‘everything point to the fact that Arsenal will not hold back efforts to convince Newcastle United’.

Newcastle United stance on Alexander Isak sale

Speaking about the rumours of an Alexander Isak transfer this month, Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales said: “It is part of football. You would rather have people talking about players than not in the sense we know he is a world class player and he is somebody, obviously, other clubs would covet because he is an incredible player.

“It is part and parcel of the world we live in, but it is frustrating. It is part of what football is, everybody wants to have a story [transfer speculation] and talk about it but when you think about the growth of Newcastle we have the ambition to be a top club.

“There is a sense of annoyance as we are almost seen as the next category down and it is fair game to talk about our players but we are striving as a club to be at the top table and we want our best players here and to be honest it shows the value Isak has that they talk about him all the time.”

In other news, Arsenal defender William Saliba is being courted by Real Madrid with Fabrizio Romano confirming the La Liga giants’ current stance.