If Newcastle makes Champs League, which I think is going to happen especially since top 5 look like they will make it this year, then I don't see a scenario where he leaves them for anyone. Frankly, I almost rather that happen instead of having to deal with a transfer saga that takes up precious time and tons of resources this summer when we could get our business done early and potentially bring in two quality players for the cost of Isak.

If we are to guess at Isak's price, it's probably going to be close to 130m pounds, a PL record fee. Now my question to everyone here is - would you rather Isak at 130m pounds or a combo of Sesko (let's say 75m) and Semenyo/Nico Williams (50-60m)? I'd probably be happy with either option but I think I prefer the second option. You'd bring in a high potential CF whose production has been ahead of basically all his peers at the same age other than Haaland and a quality winger to compete with Martinelli for the starting LW spot and push our attack to another level while also improving the floor of our depth.

I'd go with Isak, 1 great player always beats two good players, especially if you already have a bunch of good players.

In other words Martinelli-Isak-Saka is better than Williams-Sesko-Saka.

Isak, easily. Our other options complement him well. Isak, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli, Trossard is a big improvement.

Sesko would be in danger of ending up in a selection no-man's-land. Isak would play (and get injured, but that's another story).

City are about to get sanctioned and quite likely go into transition, Liverpool are maybe losing Salah and Trent, the rest of our squad is peaking and starting to get tapped up. There's well above average major trophy and player retention upside built into a couple of "capstone" signings.

daredevil do you like Isak now?

Burnwinter Isak would play (and get injured, but that's another story).

Yeah, I worry about that bit. You know that as soon as we sign him, he'd pull an ACL and then we're back to square one.

Linked to Thuram recently - he’d be a good option

Fuck the summer window. We need to look at free transfers asap. Ben Yedder please.

I want nothing to do with Ben Yedder. Vile human being who has been charged with rape and sexual assault in two different incidents over the last two years. Having to watch Partey on the field the last two years has been tough enough but bringing in someone where there already is a history of this is a bridge too far for me and no amount of success is worth that.

Sicario2 - Tier 1 don't let AFTV bait you! Doubt Chido would have much impact if he got first XI minutes for us.

lorddulaarsenal He isn't good enough IMO. Yeah his stats are good but I have seen enough of him for the French national team to come to that conclusion. Kolo Muani, who failed miserably at PSG, has always looked the better player to me.

Fully expecting our attack to be an issue next season.

If were talking those free transfers, might as well bring Thierry out from retirement. Fairly confident even pushing 50 he'd be able to do more than all those combined.

The amount of injuries this year, not only with Arsenal but now at Chelsea, City and basically every big team barring Liverpool, has me thinking we definitely need to add bodies in addition to three signings of real quality. I think that we need 3-5 younger prospects with high ceilings to add depth to the squad and take a few swings at getting the types of players whose value will blow up in a year or two.
Quality: Sesko, Semenyo, Zubimendi, Joan Garcia
Younger Depth: Sverre Nypan (CM), the two Greek prospects from Olympiakos we were linked with this week - Kostoulas (CF) & Mouzakitis (CM), Ishe Samuels-Smith (LB from Chelsea).

Then we could go into the season like this:

-------------------------------------- Raya/Garcia ----------------------------------------------
Timber/White -- Saliba/White/Tomiyasu -- Gabriel/Kiwior/Calafiori -- MLS/Calafiori/Samuels-Smith
---------------------------------Zubimendi/Merino/Mouzakitis-----------------------------------
----------------- Odegaard/Nwaneri/Nypan ------- Rice/Merino/Nypan --------------------------
------- Saka/Havertz/Nwaneri --- Sesko/Havertz/Kostoulas --- Semenyo/Martinelli/Trossard ------

Clearly we would have some players with more flexibility to cover multiple roles like Trossard, Havertz, Semenyo, Nwaneri, Merino, Calafiori, White, and Timber. I just used players who were linked with us, with the exception of Samuels-Smith who I think we could scoop from Chelsea's youth team. Personally, I think we may also see Trossard leave and then we likely will want to bring in another fringe first team attacker but I think we need to add more young players to the team this summer in addition to headliners.

first time I've heard a winger mentioned as well. we 1000% need both a striker and a winger at minimum this summer.

Gazza M 1000%. If we come out of this window with less than 2 new first team quality attackers, it will be a failure. And that's before potentially selling Trossard - if he gets sold then we need 3 minimum.
Personally I think we need 3 this summer regardless - top quality ST (or at least potential to hit World Class), top quality Winger, younger attacker with high ceiling. I'd go with Sesko, Barcola (Semenyo/Nico if we can't), and Dibling or Nusa.

QuincyAbeyie

I never said I didn't. I was just questioning why a striker who was going to cost north of 100m was languishing so low in the scoring charts, but clearly he read my comment as he's third now.

We need a backup GK, and it looks likely we grab that Garcia lad from Espanyol.

Will Kiwior stick around this summer? If he leaves, we would need another CB. Do we start eyeing a future Saliba replacement? I don't think he's leaving imminently, but eventually...

With Rice looking fixed at 8, I wouldn't want to lose both Partey and Jorginho this summer. Assuming Zubimendi comes, he would be our only holding midfielder, and he would be new to the Prem. For stability's sake, I would like to keep Partey for another season, but it doesn't look like we're gonna do that. Wonder what the plan is at 6. Clearly we're gunning for that kid Nypan as well, but he's a right-footed 8/10.

It's great that Nwaneri seems to have solved the 'Saka backup' problem. I think Sesko is the most likely signing upfront. We do need a silky left winger who can break down low blocks, in the mold of Williams or Barcola. That would let Martinelli be a versatile role player used for his directness, physical intensity, and verticality. It would probably mean Trossard is sold (esp with dead weight Jesus), but I would prefer we keep him for the last year of his contract.