January switch window: Paul Merson on Alexander Isak to Arsenal, Trent Alexander-Arnold to Actual Madrid and Rodri substitute

With the January switch window open, Paul Merson offers his tackle whether or not Arsenal want a striker, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool future and why Manchester Metropolis want a Rodri substitute.

Regardless of Gabriel Jesus’ goal-scoring outings in latest weeks, the Sky Sports activities pundit says Newcastle’s Alexander Isak would “take Arsenal to the next level”.

Premier League leaders Liverpool additionally proceed to face questions over the contracts of Alexander-Arnold – who’s attracting curiosity from Actual Madrid – Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

In the meantime, may Manchester Metropolis nonetheless rescue their season by bringing in a midfielder to fill the void left by the injured Rodri?

Learn on for Merson’s ideas on what may unfold within the switch window over the following month…

‘Arsenal ought to break the financial institution for Isak’

If I used to be Arsenal and had the cash, I might exit and purchase [Alexander] Isak. I might break the financial institution for him. He is the perfect of the perfect and takes Arsenal to a different stage.

What I like about Jesus is he is obtained again into the crew and mentioned ‘this time spherical, I’ll get within the field and rating objectives. If I’ll keep on this crew, I would like to attain objectives’ and that is what he is performed. The aim in opposition to Brentford was a correct poacher’s aim and it is uncommon we see him within the six yard field, heading them in.

With Kai Havertz coming again as properly, it pushes him again to midfield however as a ahead, Havertz will naturally get into the field and there is an additional physique in there.

If Jesus can preserve doing what he is doing, they will not should [bring in a striker]. However wanting on the all-round image and subsequent season as properly, if they’ll pay money for Isak, who I believe is the perfect within the enterprise in the meanwhile, I believe that will be an enormous coup for Arsenal.

‘Trent will be part of Actual – however I might be shocked if it occurs in January’

£20m in soccer phrases is a cup of tea. It is hardly something within the Premier League. You have to preserve him. He is a particular participant, let’s take advantage of watching him within the subsequent 4 or 5 months.

His vary of passing is second to none, now we have to get pleasure from him. Certainly he will not wish to go to Actual Madrid right now.

Liverpool have an unbelievable likelihood of successful the Premier League. They did it in 2020 when The Kop wasn’t full and there was no-one there. Except you are a Man Utd or Arsenal fan, who would not need them to win the league this season?

I do not know if anybody’s ever turned down Actual Madrid. They’re only a particular membership, he isn’t going downwards. Liverpool have gotten a a lot greater likelihood of successful the Champions League this season, but when they get him they have an unbelievable expertise.

He’ll be at Actual Madrid [next season]. I can not see something however Actual Madrid. Whenever you get your contract all the way down to the final six months, the sum of money he is misplaced from not signing a brand new deal on increased wages.

I do not see it not taking place, however I might be majorly shocked if it occurred in January.

‘To have your three greatest gamers contracts ending in six months is legal’

I believe all three of Trent, Van Dijk and Salah have been an absolute credit score if I am being sincere. 


I believe for them to have their contracts whittled down to 6 months left, how that ever occurs in soccer, it is legal. To have three of your greatest gamers’ contracts all finish in six months is simply it is exceptional, actually.

I can not keep in mind anyplace else the place you have had three high, high, high gamers having their contracts run out. If they might preserve two of the three, they’ve had the largest end result ever. I assumed they’d lose all three of them.

If Trent goes however they’ll preserve Van Dijk and Salah, I believe they’ve had the largest end result ever. However for Liverpool to seek out themselves in that place, as I say, in soccer, it is legal.

‘Man Metropolis should prioritise a Rodri substitute’

Man Metropolis in all probability have to enter the market in January and get somebody in as a result of in the meanwhile, I do not assume with the crew that they have, they are going to be preventing for high 4.

Their precedence needs to be defensive midfield, a holding midfield participant. Rodri has been majorly missed. I do know individuals go, ‘it is not simply all the way down to him’, however personally, I do. I believe it has been all the way down to him. So simple as that.

In the event you drive a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce and you place diesel in, it is not going anyplace. It would not matter how good you’re, how good the automobile is and the way nice it’s, if you have not obtained the factor that makes it work contained in the engine, it will not work and it is confirmed with Rodri.

They’re so open and the factor with Rodri is he sees hazard. What number of occasions do you see Man Metropolis getting attacked now and so they’re everywhere? It did not occur with Rodri.

He ticked it alongside. These little 5, 10-yard balls by way of the strains to [Bernardo] Silva, Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, that does not occur now. They don’t seem to be getting the ball as fast and when you aren’t getting the ball as fast, every thing closes in.

These gamers want time and house and in the event that they do, they may completely destroy you. However in the meanwhile, they don’t seem to be getting that as a result of the ball just isn’t getting moved by way of the strains fast sufficient. The defence are everywhere too, they have not obtained that safety.

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