As things stand, most Arsenal fans assume that they’ll be watching either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres lead the line for Mikel Arteta next season.
Arsenal have been in talks with both strikers in recent weeks and new sporting director Andrea Berta has already done some excellent ground work.
At this point, many believe that Arsenal want Benjamin Sesko first and foremost, perhaps because the 22-year-old is earlier in his career and has time to improve.
In fact, Arsenal have doubts about Viktor Gyokeres internally, even if he’s the sort of ‘win now’ striker many fans in north London are craving.
But as the days and weeks go on, Arsenal don’t necessarily seem to be close to announcing either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres as their new number nine.
Andrea Berta now considering a move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike
That being said, German outlet BILD are now reporting that Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is firmly back on Arsenal’s radar.
TBR Football previously shared that Arsenal had held talks with Ekitike, a 23-year-old French striker who thrived in the Bundesliga last season.
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates win vs Sport-Club Freiburg
Photo by Sebastian El-Saqqa – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
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But Arsenal’s interest in Ekitike had seemingly cooled somewhat, perhaps whilst the Gunners chased Sesko and Gyokeres as mentioned.
However, Ekitike is now playing a ‘serious’ role in Arsenal’s transfer plans according to the report.
BILD claim that Arsenal have made ‘little progress’ elsewhere, explaining why Berta is now considering Ekitike again.
Although, Arsenal are not prepared to pay Frankfurt’s €100m (£85m) asking price, one that goes beyond the fee needed to sign either Sesko or Gyokeres.
But in what could be a complicated race to sign Arsenal’s two main targets, the report believes that Ekitike could become a ‘real attraction’ for the Gunners as the window goes on.
Hugo Ekitike wouldn’t solve Arsenal’s problems this summer
As mentioned, Arsenal have concerns about Sesko and Gyokeres for different reasons.
Sesko might be too expensive for the Gunners this summer in terms of what they believe the Slovenian is worth.
And Gyokeres has his doubters owing to the fact that the bulk of his goals have been scored in Portugal.
But in terms of Ekitike — the striker doesn’t really solve the issue for Arsenal, given that he would cost similar, if not more than Sesko.
By most accounts, Arsenal would rather sign Sesko than Ekitike and perhaps Berta is just being clever by broadening the Gunners’ search, in an attempt to weaken either Leipzig or Sporting’s hand.
Berta has brought a fresh approach to Arsenal in the transfer market when compared to Edu Gaspar, and word of the Gunners’ interest in Ekitike might even just be to aid the club’s negotiations elsewhere.