February 06, (THEWILL) – Arsenal target and Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak has been linked with a move to Manchester United as a possible replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 22-year-old Sweden international, who has a £75 million buyout clause in his contract, remains a target for Arsenal but United face a daunting reality. If they fail to qualify for the Champions League, Ronaldo, who turned 37 recently, is unlikely to stay in the summer.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner played two UEFA Cup matches for Sporting Lisbon 20 years ago, but the notion of Ronaldo playing in Europe’s second-ranked club competition two decades after his last participation seems unrealistic.
United’s contract with the Portuguese international expires at the conclusion of next season, but he has the option to extend it for another 12 months.
If interim manager Ralf Rangnick is successful in securing Champions League football, Ronaldo is likely to stay. Meanwhile, the club will be looking for a permanent manager and expecting a flurry of arrivals and departures during the summer transfer window.
Ronaldo’s satisfaction does not inevitably determine United’s need for attacking reinforcements. Also, Edinson Cavani’s contract expires at the end of the season, Anthony Martial is on loan at Sevilla, and Mason Greenwood is not being considered for selection, for obvious reasons.
United’s forward line may go from having a plethora of alternatives to being threadbare. Isak is an ideal option to fill the blanks. The Swede, who has eight goals in 31 Swedish caps, is a standout for Real Sociedad, where he is paired with former Manchester United wonderkid Adnan Januzaj and Manchester City great David Silva.
The 22-year-old previously struggled to live up to his enormous potential after being signed by Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund at the age of 17.
However, Isak drew the attention of the Basque-based side after a loan spell at Eredivisie side Willem II in 2019, where he scored 14 goals and added seven assists in 18 games.
Isak has 41 goals and seven assists in 115 games for Sociedad, including 17 goals in La Liga last season. And, despite the fact that Isak is under contract until 2026, the prospects of signing the young Swede are better than those of Erling Haaland.
Yet, much will depend on how United finishes the season, even in the face of the fact that the Reds will have to prepare for life without Cristiano Ronaldo at some point.
With Dusan Vlahovic now at Juventus and Haaland having a plethora of financial choices, Manchester United may be prudent to pursue Isak and Arsenal will have to prepare for that reality in the summer.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
