Arsenal 'ready' to repeat Declan Rice transfer trick as £100m 'set aside' to sign striker

Arsenal are searching for a striker during the January transfer window as they aim to bridge the gap to leaders Liverpool in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s side sit second in the table, on 40 points after 20 matches. They are currently six points behind Arne Slot’s side, who also have a game in hand to boast.

Arsenal damaged their chances to get their first piece of silverware this season after they lost 2-0 to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg. They head to St James’ Park at the start of February to try and come back and book their place in the final. The Gunners are keen to add reinforcements during the January transfer window, in order to give themselves their best shot at winning their first Premier League title since the 2003/04 season.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are open to repeating the trick that they pulled by signing Declan Rice, and spending £100m on a single player after they refrained from spending heavily in the summer. They signed Rice in the summer of 2023 from West Ham for an initial fee of £100m with £5m in add-ons, a club-record transfer fee. With their sights set on adding a striker, Arsenal could make a similar blockbuster deal for a goal-scorer this month in order to boost their title chances.

Arsenal’s dream £100m+ striker transfer from Premier League rivals

It is no secret that the Gunners have a strong interest in Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, who scored and assisted during the 2-0 result at the Emirates this week. The Sweden international has been one of the stand-out players in the Premier League this season, scoring 13 goals and contributing four assists in 18 league games for the Magpies.

Newcastle values Isak at £150m, meaning that Arsenal would have to break a club record deal by some margin if they were to land the 25-year-old. Furthermore, the attacker has little incentive to leave a Newcastle team, who have a shot at silverware in the Carabao Cup, and look on course to challenge for a Champions League place this year.

Speaking recently, the Sweden international said: "Playing football at this level has always been a dream and probably the main dream that I've had. Playing in the Premier League for a club like Newcastle with a fan base like they have here is extra special."

Arsenal linked with alternatives to Newcastle’s Isak

The Gunners may have to look elsewhere if they want to spend big on a striker, especially in the January transfer window. They have been linked with Wolves striker Matheus Cunha, who is currently negotiating a new contract at Molineux. The Brazilian has scored 10 goals and contributed four assists in 19 Premier League games.

He would be a much cheaper option for Arteta than Isak, and Cunha could make a move in January, should Wolves fail to tie him down to a new contract. His current deal at Molineux is due to expire in June 2027.

Furthermore, the Gunners have also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lee Kang-In, who, whilst he isn’t a pure striker, he could help provide extra goals, and cover for the injured Bukayo Saka. It has been said that PSG will demand at least double of what they paid for Kang-In when they signed him from Mallorca in 2023, meaning his price would be at least £36.5m.