This is absolutely appalling from BBC Sport on Alexander Isak and Arsenal | OneFootball

We have sadly had to become accustomed to the plummeting journalism standards at BBC Sport for some time now.

Their embarrassing transfer ‘Gossip’ is the most visited page on BBC Sport and on an epic scale they cynically repeat the lamest of made up transfer stories from some of the least reliable media ‘sources’ you can find online.

BBC Sport simply doing this to make money, as those visiting their site from overseas are served with adverts.

Newcastle United players (and fans…) are very frequently the victims of these ridiculous made up transfer stories that BBC Sport repeat from their ‘sources’…

With of course, Alexander Isak leaving Newcastle United this coming summer repeatedly put up as a BBC Sport headline. With the feeble ‘exclusives’ they repeat, only occasionally changing the identity of the club that Isak is ‘definitely’ going to, to give a little variety to the made up transfer stories.

BBC Sport though have now taken it up to another level.

Instead of just repeating other zero credible media and their fabricated ‘sources’, senior BBC Sport journalists are now making up their own ‘well placed sources’ to try and give some kind of credibility to what they (BBC Sport) are claiming themselves.

Sami Mokbel (BBC Sport Senior football correspondent) report – 8 May 2025:

It is no secret Arsenal want to spend a large portion of their summer budget on a new striker.

At the top of Arteta’s wishlist is Newcastle frontman Isak, and a move for the Sweden international has almost universal backing from those behind the scenes at Emirates Stadium.

Well-placed sources have told BBC Sport that Isak would be open to a move to London, though he is likely to have other options – with Liverpool also interested.’

I hadn’t heard of Sami Mokbel but when I have looked back on his previous articles, he comes across as simply an Arsenal fan, writing one embarrassing story after another giving positivity to the club he clearly supports. Or if he doesn’t support them, this BBC Sport journalist clearly wanting to please those at Arsenal and their (other) fans.

Here are some of the replies to the nonsense the BBC Sport Arsenal fanboy has made up…

‘I wondered how long it’d be before the BBC dragged the Isak to Arsenal story out again. ‘Well-placed sources’? Yeah, they always are – never any names though. Maybe TeamTalk or other such rubbish merchants. How about a Saka to Newcastle story from a ‘well-placed source’?’

‘Saka got more chance of winning a trophy at Newcastle clearly. Plus his dad was a Toon fan.’

‘BBC fake news yet again.’

‘Would love to know who the BBC’s ‘well placed sources’ are. Could they possibly be Heinz Tomato Ketchup or HP sauce?’

‘Why are the BBC assuming NUFC are the poor cousins who always want to sell to the highest bidder. A disrespectful article by the BBC.’

‘I never thought I’d get to say this but no Newcastle player would leave a trophy winning club for Arsenal so forget about Isak.’

‘The point is isak wants to move to arsenal.’

‘Based on what evidence?!

In your head.’

‘He is not going to downgrade to arsenal, NUFC are on the up.’

‘Wouldn’t want him at Arsenal anyway we should be aiming higher than Isak, should sign Mbappe, Haaland or Kane.’

‘Not the Isak rumours again, Come on BBC, stop all this fake news nonsense. You should read you own house rules before posting this rubbish!!’

‘Why this constant pathetic narrative from so-called sport journalists about Isak. A well placed source, what a joke. Newcastle’s owners, Eddie Howe and the player himself has said he is staying. Why would he go to Arsenal who never win anything anymore, and they cannot afford him.’

‘Cockney media bias.’

”Well-placed sources have told BBC Sport that Isak would be open to a move to London’ Who are these ‘well-placed’ sources? NUFC employees, or Arsenal supporting BBC pundits? Name them, come on. The BBC was once a reliable source of information, NO MORE. A cesspit of lies, and misinformation.’

‘The southern press continuing with the Isak is for sale line…. why move away form the richest club that is looking to add to their squad rather than deplete?, they are now performing superbly as a team, most likely have CL place next season, could potentially finish 2nd still!, have some silverware at last, he is loved by the fans…..?!? Makes a story I suppose ( I am not a NUFC fan btw).’

‘Why would Alexander Isak or any other top player want to join Arsenal?’

‘Because they will be joining the best team in the Champions League, don’t you read the news!’

‘There’s more chance of Arsenal signing the new Pope than there is of them signing Isak this summer – he’s on a long-term contract, the club has no need to sell, the player seems happy/is adored, his £150m price tag would be way out of their reach and it wouldn’t be a significant step up for him in terms of prestige.

Aside from that, it’s a done deal…..’

‘NUFC more likely to lure boyhood fan Saka away from perennial semi-finalists than the tired and boring Isak to [insert club here] unsubstantiated rumours. The media just can’t handle the fact that Newcastle have the best striker in Europe right now on their books, can they?’

‘Isak isn’t going there, if he moves it’ll be to a club capable of winning trophies and the Goonies ain’t!’

‘Isak will not move to Arsenal. Well placed sources !!! a joke.’

‘Too tight to sign Isak. Why would he leave a more successful club anyway?’

‘More unsubstantiated drivel from the beeb and one trick pony journalists.’

‘Utterly pathetic piece of click bait journalism about Isak. Name your source or stop peddling bile.’

‘Once again, another derogatory story towards Newcastle, assuming they’re still a stepping stone club.

Far too many media outlets painting a picture of all Newcastle players eager to leave.

Simply isn’t true.’

‘The BBC with the “inside sources” who today had an article on Longstaff with a picture of Krafth.’

‘Isak is not for sale. Hes staying at St James park. Also poor behaviour from the BBC. No credible sources on this its just the same bs from last season reworded. He’s in contract till june 2028.

NUFC in negotiations to increase his wage and extend his contract’

‘What an absolutely disgusting article by the bbc’

‘Isak to Arsenal might have been a worry if Newcastle had a mid-table finish with no European football and no trophy. But that’s so 3 years ago.

Instead they have been putting together 16-game winning runs, beating Arsenal 3 times, hovering around 3rd in the Premiership (with another chance to beat Arsenal for 2nd), and the little matter of putting an actual winner’s medal around Isak’s neck.’

‘Even in the incredibly unlikely event that Newcastle DID sell him, they wouldn’t sell him to a Premier League rival!

There are some idiots in the Premier League, but they aren’t running Newcastle…’

‘For “well placed source” read “after a night on the sauce”…’

‘Some reports say Arsenal are interested in Liam Delap, but after watching last night’s game, I reckon it must be Rory Delap as a tactical coach for his long throwing expertise!!’

‘Typical London based bbc WHY would isak leave newcastle to go to London one day at the carabo cup final in London was long enough for me.’