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Berta needs to land Arteta a striker | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal are said to be pushing ahead with a fresh bid in their race to sign a striker.
Arsenal are spinning plates when it comes to their striker chase this summer, still having two big options on the table. The Gunners are in need of a new frontman this summer having been left short of options up top.
Mikel Arteta has Kai Havertz at his disposal, but with Gabriel Jesus out for much of the calendar year, there are no other options when it comes to an out-and-out striker. Arteta has played down the need to sign a striker until now, but he can resist no more if he wants to win the Premier League title, and the expectation to do just that is growing by the year.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko for some time, with Arteta viewing the Slovenian has his type of striker - a striker who is willing to work hard and get involved in build-up play both centrally and out wide if needed.
But talks over a deal for Sesko have not progressed very quickly, and while talks are said to be ongoing, Leipzig’s reported £67million asking price could prove too high. Arsenal are said to want to reduce that fee, but they haven’t got far on that front. Leipzig are in a pretty strong position due to the striker’s long contract, while the Gunners need to spend smartly, also needing to add a number of other signings this summer.
With little wiggle room, it’s now being reported that Arsenal are pushing forward in their bid to land Sporting CP Viktor Gyokeres, now reportedly on their second bid. Mais Futebol report that Arsenal are bidding £60million for Gyokeres, upping their first bid by around £5million.
Sesko may be more Arteta’s type of striker, but Gyokeres has a superb scoring record and could cost around £7million less. That amount of money could be important for the Gunners in a summer that should bring signings aplenty.
Sporting chief on Gyokeres
Sporting CP president Frederico Varanda has said of the Gyokeres situation recently: “I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that. To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres - neither today nor last season."
He added: “One of the agent's biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause. He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now. For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m euros or 90m euros.
"In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: 'It's not worth us setting a value because I don't know what will happen in a year's time. I don't know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100m euros.”
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