Arsenal await Premier League decision with impact on Alexander Isak transfer pursuit
Arsenal face a nervous wait to see if their Premier League rivals will vote to change sponsorship rules that will determine whether the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle United can unlock extra spending power.
Top flight clubs will head to London for a meeting on November 22 at the Nobu Hotel in Portman Square in London. Rules relating to Associated Party Transactions [APT], deals with companies close to club owners, were immediately changed after the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund took over at St. James' Park in 2021 - much to the anger of the Magpies and Man City.
Since then, City have challenged the Premier League after deals with Etihad and First Abu Dhabi Bank were blocked, claiming a legal victory over the Premier League with the rules set to change. If those spending rules are loosened, as the two aforementioned clubs hope, Chronicle Live says PIF will back Eddie Howe and his side in the transfer market.
That would, in turn, have a knock on effect on any Arsenal transfer pursuit of Newcastle forward Alexander Isak. The Gunners have been repeatedly linked with a move for the Swedish striker - who scored the only goal of the game at St. James' Park in the recent league defeat for the Gunners.
The 25-year-old has bagged 39 goals for the Magpies in 77 appearances after arriving in the summer of 2022. His best spell for Newcastle came last season, with 25 goals in all competitions.
Arsenal are crying out for a player of his ilk - a modern day forward who is clinical in front of goal. As is the case for Newcastle, the Gunners find themselves complying with the Premier League's PSR rules and an approach for Isak hasn't been possible.
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The Toon have set a reported asking price in the region of the £200million mark. A hefty fee for Arsenal to part with, but he's someone who appears to be the final piece of the jigsaw in Mikel Arteta's quest for a Premier League title.
Despite some suggestions Newcastle were willing to offer Isak a new contract to fend off any interest in the upcoming transfer windows, it emerged that the club were content with the current length of his deal - which runs until the summer of 2028.
That revelation will have alerted Arsenal to his services and failure to qualify for Europe this summer would also strengthen the Gunners' bid to sign the talismanic striker. However, the vote on sponsorship rules could change the game for Newcastle, allowing the PIF backed club the opportunity to fully flex their financial muscle, having been unable to do so since taking over the club.
In new amendments to the rules the definition of fair market value has changed, ChronicleLive reports. The report says the wording has been altered to whether the amount 'would' be sold between willing parties to whether it 'could' be sold between companies and clubs while the phrase "normal conditions" has been taken out of the original wording.
Arsenal and Newcastle have received a 14-page document has now been sent to Newcastle highlighting the flexibility of new sponsorship rules that will be welcomed by City and the Magpies. The Gunners will likely be among the clubs voting against the proposals, but the new rules on the table look like they could open the door for City and Newcastle to land bigger sponsorship deals to aid their PSR battles.