Arsenal are closing in on the appointment of Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe – spelling potential danger for Newcastle United on Alexander Isak.
With Isak on Mikel Arteta’s wishlist and no sign of an improved deal for the striker, despite his contract running out in 2028, Olabe’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium could speed up Arsenal’s chase for the Toon striker. Olabe knows Isak and his representatives well after luring him to Real Sociedad from Borussia Dortmund in 2019.
Back then Isak was a player unable to break into Dortmund’s side before Olabe gave him the platform to star in La Liga, scoring 44 times for the Spanish club. That was enough to put him on Newcastle’s radar with the Magpies paying £63million for his services in 2022.
Olabe is set to replace departing supremo Edu at Arsenal and may be tasked with the pursuit of Isak. Although, Eddie Howe has pointed to the length of Isak’s contract on Tyneside and sees him as a key man moving forward at St James’ Park.
Howe said recently: “Alex has got undoubted qualities and I would put him right up there in strikers currently playing in the world, but his potential is great.
“If he can continue on the path he has been the past couple of seasons, he can prove himself as one of world’s best. Without putting pressure on him, that would be my target if I was him.”
Isak’s own personal stance on his future has also been clear and he even played down the Arsenal talk to Swedish journalists last month. Isak said: “Throughout my career, I have never talked about or really commented on the move rumours during the season. “There have been many such years where it has been talked about. It doesn’t affect me. I am commenting on my situation in Newcastle, and I have never had any problem there.”
Isak was today being assessed at Newcastle’s training ground after going off with a hip injury in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. Howe is sweating on his availability going into the encounter with Liverpool.
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