Paul Merson has called on Arsenal to "break the bank" and sign Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak this month.

Isak, 25, has established himself as one of the deadliest marksmen in the Premier League since moving to St James' Park from Real Sociedad in August 2022.

In total, the Swede has 48 scored goals in 87 games for Eddie Howe's side in the two-and-a-half seasons since.

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But despite having more than three years remaining on the six-year deal he signed when joining the Magpies, Isak has been the subject of intense transfer speculation in recent months as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool have all been linked with a move for the forward.

And Merson - who played over 300 times for the Gunners between 1985 and 1997 - has urged his former side to make a move for the impressive Isak.

"If I was Arsenal and had the money, I'd go out and buy Alexander Isak," said Merson. "I'd break the bank for him. He's the best of the best and takes Arsenal to another level."

Isak has three-and-a-half years remaining on his current deal with Newcastle United, but in October the club's manager, Eddie Howe, admitted the possibility of a new deal for the forward was a "complex situation".

"That's a slightly more complex situation," said Howe when asked about the forward's future on Tyneside. "Regarding contracts, I'm not involved in those discussions day to day.

"With Alex, he's got a long contract anyway at the football club and we have to be really careful with our spending due to profit and sustainability rules (PSR). It's not a clear-cut situation."

Newcastle United have reportedly slapped a £150million asking price on the influential striker.

Earlier this week, Howe hit back at comments from Merson, saying: "I think it comes with the territory now to be honest, maybe in my early days, that would have maybe had more of an impression on those comments, when I am in the position I am now you sort of ignore it and it is irrelevant."