‘Next level signing’ – Chelsea told to make late bid for Arsenal target

Paul Merson has told Chelsea they volition unafraid Champions League shot for adjacent play and spell to ‘the adjacent level’ if they motion Arsenal people Alexander Isak earlier the transportation deadline.

After going toe-to-toe with Premier League leaders Liverpool for overmuch of the season, Chelsea present look a immense combat to unafraid a top-four decorativeness aft falling distant since mid-December.

Enzo Marecsa’s broadside person lone won 1 of their past 7 league games – losing to Ipswich Town and Fulham during that period – to gaffe to sixth successful the table, 1 constituent extracurricular the top-four and immoderate 16 points down Liverpool.

Big-spending Chelsea person endured a subdued January transportation model but determination is inactive clip for the nine to bolster Maresca’s squad earlier the deadline connected Monday night.

Chelsea expressed involvement successful signing Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and stay successful the contention for Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel along with a fig of Premier League rivals.

Merson believes the daze signing of Isak from Newcastle United would instrumentality Chelsea to ‘the adjacent level’ and each but warrant the Blues a top-four finish.

Isak, who has scored 18 goals successful his past 19 appearances, has been heavily linked with a determination to Arsenal successful January and Merson says the Sweden planetary has the imaginable to occurrence the Gunners to Premier League glory. 

Magpies brag Eddie Howe is reluctant to suffer Isak and St James’ Park bosses person slapped an asking terms of much than £100m for the striker.

‘We’re talking astir the champion centre-forward successful the league close present successful Alexander Isak,’ Merson told Sportskeeda. ‘His goals and contributions person been mightily impressive. 

‘The happening with Isak is that helium is consistently good. Some players people 10 goals successful 10 games and determination would person been 2 hat-tricks successful there. 

‘But Isak is idiosyncratic who scores successful each azygous crippled and that makes him the champion retired there. 

‘There is nary uncertainty that each the apical clubs volition privation to motion him. With Financial Fair Play (FFP) besides coming into the picture, it volition beryllium absorbing to spot if Newcastle tin clasp connected to him. 

‘If Arsenal signed Isak, I would beryllium shocked if they don’t extremity up winning the Premier League. The aforesaid goes for Chelsea, it volition seal that apical 4 spot and instrumentality them to the adjacent level.’ 

Mikel Arteta is simply a known admirer of Isak but Arsenal person turned to different Premier League striker successful the back-end of the transportation window. 

The Gunners saw their opening connection for England  planetary Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa and are considering returning with an improved bid. 

Responding to Arsenal’s determination for Watkins, Merson added: ‘I personally deliberation Arsenal’s bid for Ollie Watkins was conscionable a farce! 

‘They knew they aren’t getting him for that wealth and they conscionable enactment successful the connection to amusement the fans they’re trying. 

‘Watkins would beryllium an outstanding signing for Arsenal though. He ticks each the boxes. Don’t interest astir him being 29, it’s the present and present that matters the most. 

‘If Arsenal get Watkins, they tin triumph the league this twelvemonth oregon possibly successful the next. So they shouldn’t beryllium disquieted astir wherever helium volition beryllium successful 4 years’ time.’

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