Isak's private opinion on Arsenal transfer as £76m talks hit stumbling block

Arsenal's chances of signing Alexander Isak on transfer deadline day appear to be fading with the Real Sociedad striker not expecting a deal to go through.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to join Barcelona on loan, the Gunners are desperate to land a striker before Monday's 11pm deadline and have shown an interest in Isak after failing to sign Dusan Vlahovic.

Vlahovic was their number one transfer target this month but snubbed Arsenal to join Juventus from Fiorentina instead.

The possibility of Isak joining Arsenal appeared to have received a boost after the Swedish international was pictured in London over the weekend.

Isak was seen in a bar in Kingly Court in Soho and in a shopping centre alongside Sociedad team-mate Adnan Januzaj, while a car with an intriguing personalised number plate was also spotted in the capital.

However, cold water has now been poured on the rumour, with The Telegraph reporting that Isak was simply in London on a shopping trip, not with a view to joining Arsenal.

The 22-year-old has since flown back to Spain and is expecting to spend the remainder of the season playing for Real Sociedad.

He reportedly believes that will continue to be the case unless his £76million buyout clause is met.

Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay will not even entertain bids or speak to rival clubs unless they offer to meet his star player's buyout clause.

That corroborates a report from Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo which said the Gunners' £60m offer had been dismissed out of hand by Sociedad.

Isak has scored seven goals in 23 appearances for the Spanish club so far this season and appears happy to finish the campaign there.

Sociedad, who won the Copa del Rey last season, are currently sixth in La Liga, while they are also through the knockout phase of the Europa League, where they will play RB Leipzig next month.

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While Isak is content with his current situation - and is under contract until June 2026 - he recently admitted he would like to play in the Premier League one day.

"I am in a good place at the moment, I am very happy, but one day it would be nice to play in England as well," he told The Independent in November.

"They have six or seven of the biggest clubs in the world, it is a very high level, and of course one day it would be an alternative.

"Every player wants to be the best version of themselves and reach the highest possible level.

"I have expectations for myself that I'm trying to fulfil, so we'll see where the journey takes me in future."