Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Alexander Isak and Franck Kessie

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Torino are reportedly the latest club to get involved in the chase for AIK starlet Alexander Isak, while Chelsea and Liverpool are said to be ahead of Arsenal in the queue to sign Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie.

According to Tuttosport (h/t Calciomercato), Torino are preparing an offer for reported Gunners target Isak, who has also been linked to Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, among others.

AIK have already rejected offers from Los Blancos and PSG, and while Isak is still expected to leave his native Sweden at some point in 2017, it’ll cost his new club a pretty penny.

The 17-year-old has emerged as one of the top young attacking talents in all of football, blending athleticism and superb instincts. Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe is a fan:

It’s easy to see why so many top clubs are interested in Isak. The type of rare talent that doesn’t come around very often. The Swede is already remarkably developed for his young age, and while he’s far from the finished product, he seems a reasonably safe investment.

Arsenal haven’t been linked with the youngster as much as some other top clubs, and with the January transfer window fast approaching, manager Arsene Wenger needs to step it up if he wants to land the special talent.

Here’s a look at some of Isak’s highlights:

Real Madrid remain the favourites to sign the man already being compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, although a January move seems unlikely. Given Isak’s young age, there’s a good chance he will be loaned back to AIK to continue his development when he does sign for a different team.

Meanwhile, Corriere dello Sport (h/t Daily Star’s Alex Harris) reports Kessie’s agent has met with Chelsea following the news Juventus have dropped their interest in the Atalanta star.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Metro’s Louis Sealey) previously reported the representative was set to meet with Liverpool, with a Premier League move becoming seemingly more likely every day.

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Juventus were previously thought to be the clear favourites to sign the Ivory Coast international, but with several Premier League clubs expressing an interest, the Bianconeri could be priced out of the race.

As reported by Goal’s Chris Wheatley, the agent George Atangana has already confirmed Arsenal’s interest: “They [Arsenal] were here in Italy to watch him. Arsenal are a good team but there are a lot of teams interested in him so they’re not the only possible destination.”

Here’s a look at the player they were reportedly watching:

Kessie has started the 2016-17 season on fire in Bergamo, playing a huge role in Atalanta’s supreme start to the campaign. The Ivorian spent time on loan with Cesena last season, where he was converted from a centre-back to a central midfielder. And the move unlocked his full potential.

With superb vision and passing range to go with his awesome strength, Kessie is already being compared to compatriot Yaya Toure, and it’s easy to see why. Like Toure, Kessie has a knack for scoring goals despite playing his football quite far away from goal.

Bleacher Report’s Adam Digby approved when he found out Liverpool were set to make a substantial offer:

Kessie won’t come cheap, and Juventus remain strong contenders due to their healthy relationship with Atalanta and a reported agreement giving the club priority, per Calciomercato (h/t Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness).

But the 19-year-old is well worth the price, even if fans may have to wait a little longer than they would like to see him play for their club, with the Africa Cup of Nations coming up in January.