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Arsenal ‘mess’ surrounding Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres explained

A month has passed since the final match of the Premier League season and many Arsenal supporters are becoming increasingly fidgety about their club’s quiet start to the transfer window. Around £700 million has already been splashed by Premier League teams this summer, but none of it by Arsenal.

This growing restlessness in some sections of the fanbase has been exacerbated by the eye-catching business that has already been done by Manchester City and Liverpool, Arsenal’s closest rivals in recent years. City have spent more than £100 million on three players, while Liverpool have added Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong at huge expense (with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez set to follow).

It would be a mistake, though, to equate Arsenal’s lack of signings with a lack of effort or desire to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad. Arsenal know this is a crucial summer and they have ambitious plans in the transfer market. Andrea Berta, the new sporting director, is currently pursuing a number of different targets in a several different positions.

What, then, is going on behind the scenes? The first thing to note is that Arsenal are close to finalising two first-team signings. Supporters should expect official confirmation of Martin Zubimendi’s arrival from Real Sociedad, in a deal worth more than £50 million, within the next few weeks. Arsenal are also in the process of finalising the £5 million recruitment of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The capture of Zubimendi, a Spain international and a Liverpool target last summer, is regarded internally as a move of huge significance — even if it has not yet generated the same feverish excitement within the club’s fanbase. With Jorginho departing on a free transfer and ongoing uncertainty over the future of Thomas Partey (more of which later), the early acquisition of Zubimendi this summer is considered to be vital.

It is a measure of the midfielder’s quality that he was recently the subject of a string of headlines in the Spanish press, which suggested that Real Madrid wanted to hijack the deal. Arsenal, it is safe to say, were not concerned about these reports. They have known for some time that they have got their man.

Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring for Sporting

Viktor Gyokeres’s potential move from Sporting has been complicated by a row with the club president - Reuters/Rodrigo Antunes

With a new midfielder and back-up goalkeeper effectively sorted, the most pressing priority for Berta has been the pursuit of a centre-forward. Arsenal have made clear their desire to add another striker to their squad, having tried and failed to do so in the previous two transfer windows, and Berta has been working on potential deals across the continent.

This is where it gets complicated. The question that every supporter is asking is: which striker do Arsenal want? The answer has so far remained a closely guarded secret, and for good reason. Telegraph Sport understands that Berta is effectively working to price up different deals before Arsenal decide to pull the trigger and execute one of them.

The two leading candidates are believed to be Benjamin Šeško, of RB Leipzig, and Viktor Gyökeres, of Sporting CP. Sesko is a long-term target who was on Arsenal’s radar a year ago, while Gyokeres is the Swedish goal machine who has laid waste to the Portuguese league in the past few seasons.

Berta taking risk in pursuing strikers at same time

Telegraph Sport understands there are important figures within Arsenal who have long championed Sesko, the younger option at 22. Berta, meanwhile, is known to be a huge admirer of Gyökeres, who turned 27 this month.

Arsenal arguably cannot make a truly informed decision without knowing the cost of both players. Berta has therefore been working on the two deals simultaneously, and trying to keep all parties sweet. It speaks volumes that German reports have repeatedly said Sesko is the preferred target, while Portuguese reports have said the same about Gyökeres.

Spinning plates is not an easy task, however, and there is clearly a certain amount of risk involved in this strategy. A well-connected source in Germany confidently told Telegraph Sport last month that Sesko was “absolutely” the preferred candidate, but that same source rowed back a few weeks ago by saying the situation had become, from his perspective, a “mess”.

It is also messy in Lisbon, where the Sporting president made a public statement amid reports that Gyökeres was furious with his club. The striker and his agent are said to feel that a gentleman’s agreement, which supposedly said he could leave for £59 million, has been disrespected. Frederico Varandas, the Sporting president, vowed the club will not bow down to “blackmail and insults”.

It is entirely possible, of course, that Arsenal are pursuing both deals — and masking the truth about their preferred target — only because they want to strengthen their negotiating position for the striker they really want. They would be in a stronger position to sign Sesko at a lower price, for example, if Leipzig firmly believed that a deal was also on the table for Gyokeres.

Given the various machinations and complications, it is perhaps no surprise that a deal has not yet been concluded. It is also no surprise that all involved in the pursuit are keeping their cards extremely close to their chests.

Andrea Berta, Arsenal's sporting director

Andrea Berta, Arsenal’s sporting director, is chasing several targets in a number of different positions - Getty Images/Stuart MacFarlane

Could Arsenal yet choose to prioritise an alternative centre-forward? It is still possible. They have continued to be linked with Ollie Watkins, the subject of a failed bid in January, but sources insist another offer for the Aston Villa striker is now unlikely. Arsenal have also looked at Brighton’s João Pedro, as revealed by Telegraph Sport earlier this summer, among other attackers in Europe.

As well as signing a No 9, Arsenal also want to strengthen their attack by adding a new winger. Long-term target Nico Williams is seemingly heading elsewhere, although any move for the Spaniard was always going to be extremely complicated financially.

If there is a deal to be done for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, Arsenal would be keen to do it. The Brazilian international is seen as one of Europe’s most exciting wide players and his future at Madrid is far from clear. A move for the 24-year-old, if Arsenal are encouraged to make an offer, would not be expected to happen until much later in the window.

Another potential winger target could be Chelsea’s Noni Madueke. Telegraph Sport revealed last week that Madueke is on Arsenal’s radar, although the strength of their interest remains unclear.

Arsenal would almost certainly need another new central midfielder if Partey leaves the club as a free agent this summer. The 32-year-old ideally wants to stay at Arsenal but, as it stands, no agreement has been reached over a new deal. Partey is known to have interest from other clubs in Europe and in the Middle East, and he may find a more lucrative contract in another league.

For all the focus on new signings, Arsenal are also keen to use this summer as a chance to reward their existing stars with new deals. Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are both in line for extensions, while Arsenal are finalising a new contract for teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly. Ethan Nwaneri, another academy graduate, is also in talks over a new deal.

The departure of Kieran Tierney and uncertainty over the futures of Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko will likely necessitate a defensive signing, too. Arsenal are long-term admirers of Ajax defender Jorrel Hato (Telegraph Sport first reported on their interest in January 2024) and have been linked with making another move for the Dutchman this summer. It remains to be seen whether they choose to rival other clubs for Hato’s signature.

Clearly, there is plenty of work to be done this summer. Arsenal may not have announced any signings yet, but their supporters should not worry. The wheels are in motion.

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