January transfer window: Paul Merson on Alexander Isak to Arsenal, Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid and Rodri replacement | Football News happymamay

As the January transfer window opens, Paul Merson offers his opinion on whether Arsenal need a striker, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future at Liverpool, and why Manchester City need a replacement for Rodri.

Despite the goalscoring performances of Gabriel Jesus in recent weeks, the team Sky Sports Newcastle’s Alexander Isak will ‘take Arsenal to the next level’, says pundit.

Premier League leaders Liverpool also continue to face questions over the contracts of Alexander-Arnold – who is attracting interest from Real Madrid – Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

Meanwhile, can Manchester City still salvage their season by bringing in a midfielder to fill the void left by the injured Rodri?

Read on for Merson’s thoughts on what could happen in the transfer window over the next month…

‘Arsenal should break the bank for Isaac’

If I were Arsenal and had the money, I would go out and buy [Alexander] Isaac. I’d break the bank for him. He is the best ever and takes Arsenal to another level.

What I like about Jesus is that he came back into the team and said, “This time, I will enter the penalty area and score goals.” If I’m going to stay in this team, I need to score goals and that’s what he did. The goal against Brentford was a convenient one and it’s rare to see him in the six-yard box, heading home.

With Kai Havertz also back, it pushes him into midfield but as a striker, Havertz will naturally get into the box and there is an extra body there.

If Jesus could keep doing what he was doing, they wouldn’t have to [bring in a striker]. But looking at the big picture and next season as well, if they can get Isak, who I think is the best in the business at the moment, I think that would be a massive coup for Arsenal.

“Trent will join Real Madrid, but I would be shocked if that happened in January.”

£20m in football terms is a cup of tea. It’s hardly anything in the Premier League. You have to keep it. He is a special player, let’s benefit from watching him in the next four or five months.

His range of passing is unparalleled, we have to enjoy it. He certainly wouldn’t want to go to Real Madrid at this time.

Liverpool have an incredible chance to win the Premier League. They did it in 2020 when the cup wasn’t full and no one was there. Unless you’re a Manchester United or Arsenal fan, who wouldn’t want them to win the league this season?

I don’t know if anyone has ever rejected Real Madrid before. They’re just a private club, he won’t back down. Liverpool have a much greater chance of winning the Champions League this season, but if they get it they will have incredible talent.

He will be at Real Madrid [next season]. I can’t see anything but Real Madrid. When you downgrade your contract to the last six months, the amount of money you’ve lost by not signing a new deal with higher wages increases.

I don’t expect it won’t happen, but I would be pretty shocked if it happened in January.

“For your three best players to have their contracts expire within six months is criminal.”

I think the trio of Trent, Van Dijk and Salah had the absolute credit if I’m honest.

I think reducing their contracts to six months remaining, how that happens in football, is criminal. For three of your best players to have their contracts expire within six months is unheard of.

I can’t remember anywhere else where you had three of your best and best players out of contract. If they can keep two of the three, they have the biggest score ever. I thought they were going to lose all three.

If Trent leaves but they can keep Van Dijk and Salah, I think they have achieved the biggest result ever. But for Liverpool to find themselves in this position, as I say, in football, is criminal.

“Manchester City should prioritize Rodri’s replacement.”

Maybe Manchester City should go to the market in January and bring someone in because right now, I don’t think with the squad they have, they’ll be competing for the top four.

Their priority should be the defensive midfielder, the defensive midfielder. Rhodri has been sorely missed. I know people say, “It’s not just up to him,” but personally I do. I think it was up to him. That simple.

If you drive a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce and you put diesel in it, it won’t go anywhere. It doesn’t matter how good you are, how good the car is, how great it is, if you don’t have the thing inside the engine that makes it work, it won’t work and that has been proven with Rhodri.

They are very open and the thing with Rhodri is that he sees the danger. How often do you see Man City getting attacked now and they are everywhere? That didn’t happen with Rodri.

Mark it along. Those five little 10-yard balls across the lines for [Bernardo] Silva, Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, that’s not happening now. They don’t get the ball as quickly, and when you don’t get the ball as quickly, everything gets closer to you.

These players need time and space, and if they do, they will completely destroy you. But right now, they don’t understand it because the ball isn’t moving across the lines fast enough. The defense is all over the place as well, and they don’t have that protection.

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