Arsenal remain in serious pursuit of a new striker, but talks over a deal for RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko are believed to be stalling.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Related
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Andrea Berta has shifted focus.
Sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners recruitment team have held negotiations over signing the Slovenia international for weeks, but as of now, Arsenal are not willing to match Leipzig's demands of £68-£85 million.
Arsenal first opened "concrete" discussions for Sesko near the end of May, but it's proving to be a very complicated deal. Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs recently reported that the Gunners want to sign him for around £59 million, so Berta appears to be some way off Leipzig's valuation as things stand.
Attention is now beginning to turn towards alternatives, even if the 22-year-old appears to be at the top of Berta's wishlist.
Viktor Gyokeres told Arsenal could sign him
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing for The Boot Room, Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres remains in their thinking, and his agents have been told something crystal clear behind-the-scenes.
Indeed, Gyokeres' camp are informed that he's a striker option for Arsenal if Sesko talks end up going nowhere, following the Swede's exceptional Primeira Liga campaign.
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko celebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
“From what I’m told, there is some push back from Arsenal on saying that Arteta is the one simply banging on the table saying ‘bring me Sesko’," said Bailey.
"That’s not how a big club operates now, my belief is that Arteta made it clear in terms of what he wants in terms of a striker — he’s voiced his opinion on certain options and he’s generally happy with who Arsenal are targeting.
“So I don’t think it’s intrinsically true that Arteta is just pushing for Sesko. I know for a fact that other players’ camps like Gyokeres’ have been told that Sesko isn’t the only option.
viktor-gyokeres-sporting-primeira-liga
“Whether that’s the truth or not, maybe it’s somewhere in between, but as it stands, Sesko is still the furthest along in terms of a deal being done. We know Arsenal are speaking to Leipzig about a deal and Sesko has made his feelings known to Leipzig — he thought there was an agreement to leave for X amount.
“Sesko is furthest along, but it wouldn’t take an awful lot for Arsenal to divert to Gyokeres, Ekitike or Watkins if they wanted to. But Sesko is the priority."
Gyokeres spearheaded Sporting to their first domestic double in two decades last season, all while scoring a sensational 54 goals in all competitions. In truth, he's seen as "underrated" by some considering he's still yet to secure a big move away, despite free-scoring in Portugal for the last two years.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has already ruled out the prospect of him leaving for around £60 million, though, so Arsenal may have to invest significantly here as well.