Take out Erling Haaland from the equation, and it is seemingly most golf equipment in European soccer, Arsenal included, would select to signal Alexander Isak this summer time.
The Gunners have had a long-vested curiosity within the Swede, courting again to earlier than he was even a Newcastle participant.
Sadly, after a marketing campaign through which the Toon’s star man bagged 27 targets in 42 video games, he seems to be like he is staying within the north east.
Asking costs from £150m to £200m have been touted, making this transfer nigh on unimaginable for anybody, not to mention the Gunners.
Liverpool are reportedly on the desk too and if Arne Slot’s males have been to prise the ahead away from Newcastle, it might be a colossal kick within the tooth for Arsenal.
Nonetheless, there are alternate options, and alternate options that share comparable traits to the Swedish famous person.
The most recent on Arsenal’s hunt for brand new attackers
With strikes for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi set for completion within the not-too-distant future, Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta are getting a transfer on with their summer time enterprise.
Nonetheless, a brand new ahead continues to elude them amid ongoing talks to signal Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal have additionally been taking a look at wingers, particularly Actual Madrid’s Rodrygo, Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace’s playmaking sensation, Eberechi Eze.
Nicely, what if they might discover a participant with the power to play on the flanks and thru the center? That truth is definitely true of Ademola Lookman.
In accordance with Caught Offside, the Gunners at the moment are in lively negotiations to signal the Nigerian attacker from Italian outfit Atalanta.
After earlier spells in England with Charlton, Everton, and Fulham, Lookman has greater than confirmed himself in Italy and seems to be eager on coming again to the Premier League.
Whereas Arsenal will face competitors from Liverpool for his signature, the 27-year-old is claimed to be valued at round €45m to €50m (£38m – £43m) plus add-ons.
How Ademola Lookman might enhance Arsenal
Let’s take you again to the yr of 2020 for a second. Soccer is being performed behind closed doorways as a result of pandemic and Lookman has simply missed one of many worst penalty makes an attempt you’ll ever see.
A panenka seems to be nice when it comes off, however on this occasion, it disgraced and embarrassed a younger Lookman.
Since then, the attacker has turn into “top-of-the-line prospects in Europe”, within the phrases of former Man Metropolis defender-turned pundit Nedum Onuoha.
Why? Nicely, who might neglect the Lookman remaining, a sport the place Atalanta gained the Europa League in 2024 courtesy of the Nigeria worldwide who scored a surprising hat-trick to seal a 3-0 win over Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
It was genuinely top-of-the-line particular person performances you will note on a giant stage and he isn’t slowed down since that second.
Throughout the 2023/24 marketing campaign, Lookman scored 17 targets and equipped ten assists in all competitions. In 2024/25, he was even higher in entrance of objective, netting 20 and registering seven assists.
Undoubtedly some of the thrilling gamers in Serie A, his price of productiveness within the remaining third is fascinating, however the participant’s versatility can be an unlimited plus level. Able to taking part in on the flanks, as a striker or behind the main no.9, that versatile nature ought to be a giant field tick for Arteta.
Such a capability to play in a plethora of positions has led data-led web site FBRef to proclaim that Bukayo Saka is the third-most comparable winger in Europe to Lookman, whereas Isak is the third-most comparable striker. Not unhealthy certainly. However, what makes them alike? We have crunched the numbers.
Lookman vs Isak & Saka: 2024/25 league | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stat (per 90 minutes) | Lookman | Isak | Saka |
Targets | 0.60 | 0.75 | 0.31 |
Assists | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.52 |
Photographs | 3.24 | 3.10 | 3.44 |
Key passes | 2.44 | 1.34 | 3.02 |
Progressive passes | 2.98 | 2.88 | 3.65 |
Shot-creating actions | 5.41 | 3.01 | 6.09 |
Succesful take-ons | 1.48 | 1.37 | 2.14 |
Progressive carries | 5.68 | 2.71 | 5.00 |
Stats through FBRef. | |||
Blessed with tempo, fleet-footedness and low centre of gravity, Lookman possesses a really comparable type on the flanks to Saka and his skill to dart in behind and run the channels can draw comparisons to Isak.
That is definitely seen within the numbers, the place the previous Fulham man combines the very best of each gamers right here.
He is stronger than Saka in entrance of objective per 90 minutes however he creates the same variety of key passes. He is additionally very progressive along with his actions, solely barely falling behind Arsenal’s quantity 7 for progressive passes however truly rating greater for progressive carries.
Like Isak, he completes the same variety of take-ons and so they’re nearly equal for photographs taken as properly.
A profitable take-on is recorded when a participant beats their opponent by instantly carrying the ball previous them whereas retaining possession.
So, if Arsenal are usually not prepared to interrupt the financial institution to signal somebody like Sesko or Gyokeres this summer time, Lookman might be the following neatest thing.
It is a uncommon alternative to seek out somebody who combines the very best attributes of two of the very best gamers within the Premier League.
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