Arsenal technical director Edu has been ‘working hard’ on a move for Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak – but he looks unlikely to join, as does Raul de Tomas.
That’s according to Football London, who claim that Arsenal have been trying to get a striker in on deadline day.
Edu put all – or at least most – of his eggs in the basket of Dusan Vlahovic, only for him to choose to a move to Juventus instead of Arsenal.
That left Arsenal scrambling in the final days of the window, and it looks like they will come up empty in the pursuit of a new striker.
It’s stated that Isak was a complicated target because of his huge release clause. That cause at Sociedad is believed to stand at €90million (£75million).
Edu was allegedly ‘working hard’ to try and thrash out a deal for Isak, but that now looks unlikely with the deadline close.
Isak, 22, is a hugely talented striker who has been branded ‘exceptional’ by Gary Lineker, and he could be the future of Arsenal’s attack.
Yet with just four league goals this season, Isak has been some way short of the numbers put up by Vlahovic.
Still, Isak is big, strong and skilful with bags of potential, which is why Arsenal would be so keen on signing him.
This may be one for the summer for Arsenal, which doesn’t exactly help Mikel Arteta’s push for the top four this season.
That same Football London report noted that sources close to Espanyol striker Raul de Tomas felt that a deadline day deal wouldn’t happen.
De Tomas has been a surprise target given that he is already 27, but 38 goals in 71 games for Espanyol has attracted Arsenal’s interest.
De Tomas seemingly won’t be arriving before the deadline either though, leaving Arteta to go with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as his two main strikers.
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