Milan have reportedly identified Real Sociedad’s up-and-coming striker Alexander Isak as an ideal long-term replacement for ageing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. As per La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanLive), the Rossoneri are in the market for a new centre-forward amid the uncertainty surrounding the veteran star’s future in Lombardy.
Milan’s ability to turn cost-effective signings into top-class performers has highlighted Paolo Maldini’s reign as technical director. However, modern football requires substantial investments, and the Rossoneri can no longer afford to rely on faint hopes of developing rough talents into high-performance players.
Therefore, if they are to replace a player of Ibrahimovic’s qualities and status, Milan will have to dig into their pockets and splash the cash. One of the names on Maldini’s shortlist is Isak, who has suffered a dip in form at Sociedad following a superb 2020/21 season.
After racking up 17 goals and two assists in La Liga last term, the Sweden international has been on the scoresheet only four times in 18 top-flight appearances this season. So it’s not surprising that his price tag has dropped to €40m despite Arsenal’s unrelenting attempts to make him Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s long-term successor.
The Gunners are known admirers of Isak as they’ve been keeping close tabs on his development at Reale Arena for quite some time now. But Milan are now ready to throw a spanner in the works and launch their own bid to sign the prodigious 22-year-old striker as part of the club’s efforts to replace Ibrahimovic.
With the 40-year-old forward approaching the final months of his contract at the San Siro, speculations about his future are making the headlines. Though Ibrahimovic has recently admitted he has no intention of quitting his playing career anytime soon, he has yet to pledge his future to Milan.
It means that even if he decides to continue playing, it could well be away from Lombardy. Meanwhile, Milan can ill-afford the luxury of letting one of their headline performers leave without finding a suitable alternative beforehand. Given Isak’s physical attributes and style of play, it is natural that the Rossoneri are interested in acquiring his signature.
He is tall but boasts devastating pace. He is also strong in aerial duels but technically gifted. So it is fair to admit that Isak bears much resemblance to his superstar compatriot.