Newcastle United are now leading the race for an "unbelievable" striker who's been likened to Manchester City star Erling Haaland, according to a report.
Newcastle eyeing striker amid Isak uncertainty
Alexander Isak is enjoying his best season to date in a Newcastle shirt, leading his side to EFL Cup glory and scoring 27 goals in all competitions, so it is little wonder that some other top Premier League clubs are now queuing up for his signature.
Arsenal appear to be one of the most interested parties, with the Gunners now plotting a stunning £127m swoop for the striker, having identified the 25-year-old as their top target for the summer transfer window, despite the Magpies' determination to keep hold of him.
The Premier League star is also a dream signing for Liverpool, as revealed by Fabrizio Romano, while Chelsea have expressed an interest in the past, so there is likely to be no shortage of interest in the Sweden international this summer.
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The Magpies are competing with one of their rivals for his signature.
Of course, Eddie Howe's main aim should be to keep hold of Isak, given the instrumental role he has played this season, but should the talisman decide to move on, the manager may look at bringing in a top-level replacement.
According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are now above all in the race to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is now edging towards a summer exit, having failed to agree a contract extension with the Italian club
Dusan Vlahovic in action with Genoa's Koni De Winter
Vlahovic's huge £359k-a-week deal is set to expire in 2026, and with a renewal not being agreed, the Magpies may be able to sign the Serbian for a reasonable fee, but there could be competition for his signature, with clubs from Turkey also keen.
It is not explicitly mentioned whether the Juventus striker is being targeted as a direct replacement for Isak, so there is also a possibility that he is brought in regardless of whether the Swede departs.
"Unbelievable" Vlahovic needs summer move
The Serbia international has impressed in the Serie A in the past, most notably scoring 24 goals in the 2021-22 campaign, but having found the back of the net just nine times this season, he may need a summer move to reignite his career.
At just 25-years-old, the forward still has plenty of time to fulfill his potential, having previously been likened to Haaland, while also being lauded for his "unbelievable" character by former Partizan Belgrade assistant Zarko Lazetic.
That said, it is difficult to see where the Belgrade-born striker would fit into the Newcastle team, should Isak remain at the club, given that Howe has almost exclusively implemented a 4-3-3 formation this season.
As such, Vlahovic could be a solid replacement for Isak, but Newcastle should have no desire to sanction their star striker's departure.