Arsenal plotting £165m swoop for Premier League attacking duo?

Mikel Arteta has been strongly tipped to strengthen his forward line for some time, but those rumours briefly cooled following the Gunners exceptional start to 2024, particularly in the Premier League.

Indeed, Arsenal won each of their first eight top-flight games of this year, scoring 33 goals in the process, but they have since failed to find the net in three of their last six matches in all competitions, including their last two games against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich.

Arsenal's Premier League title hopes were dealt a major blow last weekend as they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, before being knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich courtesy of a 1-0 second-leg defeat on Wednesday, losing 3-2 on aggregate.

Arteta's side forked out in excess of £200m on new players last summer, but it is thought that the Gunners hierarchy are prepared to splash the cash again to ensure the club are competing on all fronts in 2024-25.

Isak, Olise emerge as primary targets for Arsenal

According to The Guardian, Arsenal are targeting a new striker and winger in the summer transfer window, with Newcastle United's Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace's Michael Olise said to have been added to their shortlist.

The report claims that Isak is one of Arsenal's 'primary targets' and the Sweden international was heavily scouted by the Gunners before he completed his £63m transfer to the Magpies in August 2022.

Isak, who has since established himself as a star player at St James' Park, is now said to be valued at around £100m.

Olise, meanwhile, has allegedly impressed Arsenal's scouting department, even though he has been restricted to only nine Premier League starts this season due to injury.

The 22-year-old is also being 'heavily tracked' by Manchester City and Manchester United, while Chelsea have previously expressed a strong interest in the winger, whose contract will have a £65m release clause become active this summer.

Isak, Olise among Premier League rising stars in demand

Both Isak and Olise are regarded as integral first-team stars by their respective clubs, who will be determined to fend off competition from top teams this summer.

Isak - who has scored 31 goals in 61 appearances for Newcastle, including 17 strikes in the Premier League this season - recently refused to rule out a possible exit from the Magpies amid interest from both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

The 24-year-old still has over four years remaining on his contract at St James' Park, but Newcastle's financial predicament and potential absence from European competition next season has led to speculation over a potential big-money sale.

As for Olise, he put pen to paper on a new contract at Crystal Palace last summer following reported bids from Chelsea, extending his deal until June 2027.

The France Under-21 international has contributed with 12 goals and 22 assists in 84 appearances for the Eagles since joining the club from Reading in 2021, chipping in with six goals and three assists in nine Premier League starts this term.

It remains to be seen whether Olise would consider a move away from Selhurst Park so soon after signing a new contract, but it is thought that the prospect of representing a club competing in European competition next season could appeal to the winger if he is assured of regular first-team football.