This summer transfer window has been dominated by strikers and the rumours regarding where these high-profile number nines could go.
A number of top Premier League clubs need a new striker this summer, none more so than Manchester United and Arsenal.
Arsenal will sign a new striker this summer, while Manchester United are trying their best to bolster their squad in that area too, despite the fact Rasmus Hojlund is still rated internally.
Inevitably, when two high-profile clubs are looking for a striker in the same position, their list of targets overlap.
Both United and Arsenal are keen on Viktor Gyokeres and with Gyokeres telling United he wants to sign for Arsenal, it looks like the Swedish striker could be headed to the Emirates.
If Gyokeres goes to Arsenal, United will need a plan B, and according to Ben Jacobs, speaking on The United Stand, the Red Devils do have a plan in place for this situation.
Benjamin Sesko in action for RB Leipzig vs Stuttgart
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Manchester United could go for Benjamin Sesko if Viktor Gyokeres joins Arsenal
According to Jacobs, Manchester United could go for Benjamin Sesko if Gyokeres does end up in north London.
Sesko has also been linked to Arsenal in a move that could be worth £67m, and it could be a case of United picking up the scraps based on which striker Arsenal don’t sign this summer.
“It could be a scenario where whoever Arsenal go for it opens the door for Manchester United for the other,” Jacobs said.
“The natural expectation is that if Gyokeres doesn’t join Arsenal he hasn’t rejected Manchester United, so he could be a possibility, but I’m told also not to discount a scenario where Gyokeres goes to Arsenal and Sesko comes back into Manchester United’s thinking as well because 12 months ago they made a strong pitch and Sesko decided to stay at Leipzig.”
Benjamin Sesko compared to Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal and Manchester United have a bit of a sliding doors moment facing them here as they will seemingly affect one another’s transfer plans significantly.
Indeed, Arsenal could directly impact Manchester United’s trajectory in the coming years depending on who they sign, and when you compare the two options, it’s clear which player United would probably rather have right now.
Benjamin Sesko Viktor Gyokeres
33 Games 33
13 Goals 39
5 Assists 7
22 Age 27
Viktor Gyokeres has been outscoring Benjamin Sesko to some degree as of late, and he knows Ruben Amorim very well too.
Sesko is a younger option who has been scoring at a respectable rate, but he’s unproven at the very top level in the same way Rasmus Hojlund was a couple of years ago when he joined United.
It will certainly be interesting to see how these situations play out.