Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, speaks to Richard Garlick, Managing Director Arsenal in the stands as he serves a suspension, prior to the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary's Stadium on May 25, 2025 in Southampton, England.placeholder image
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, speaks to Richard Garlick, Managing Director Arsenal in the stands as he serves a suspension, prior to the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary's Stadium on May 25, 2025 in Southampton, England. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal are in the market for a new striker as they look to fix a major issue
Arsenal went into the summer with a signing a new striker at the top of their list of priorities.
The Gunners watched their Premier League title challenge falter for a third-straight year as injuries to Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz proving costly. A lack of lethal finisher and depth in the forward areas was their undoing but Mikel Arteta is keen to address that.
Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres have both been strongly linked with a move to North London but as things stand it is not 100 per cent certain who the club’s top target is.
Both players are highly rated, with Gyokeres setting the Primera Liga alight while Sesko has been compared to Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland. Former Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell said of him, as quoted by the Bundesliga website: "Benjamin Šeško is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player.”
Arsenal ‘near’ agreement for Benjamin Sesko
And it is Sesko who appears closer to a move to Arsenal, per a report from Caught Offside. The outlet claims that the North London club are nearing an agreement of around £64.3m to get a deal over the line as the respective parties edge towards a compromise.
RB Leipzig were said to want closer to £70m for Sesko but would be willing to come down from that number if the deal is structured to their satisfaction. However, Arsenal - while well out in front to sign Sesko - are not alone in their pursuit of the 22-year-old.
It adds that the Slovenian is “on the radar” of Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid. He has been with RB Leipzig for two years and is under contract until the summer of 2029 so while Arsenal could bring the fee down, they will need to be willing to be flexible with Leipzig’s demands when it comes to the structure of the deal as the German club hold all the cards.
Why Benjamin Sesko could be a better signing than Viktor Gyokeres
Both Sesko and Gyokeres are fantastic players in their own right and most importantly for Arsenal - prolific strikers. Gyokeres has netted an impressive 97 goals in two seasons for Sporting CP while Sesko has scored 39 times for Leipzig. He has played 13 games fewer than Gyokeres in that time.
While the Sporting CP ace’s goal record is vastly superior, it should be noted that Sesko is playing in a more competitive league and is five years younger. Age could prove a decisive factor in what Arsenal decide to do as while both players would likely prove to be shrewd additions - Sesko would be able to offer many more years of service to the Gunners and in turn prove much better value for money.
Sporting are not letting Gyokeres go easily after an impressive two years for the Sweden international and it appears the Gunners may be finding negotiations more straight forward with Leipzig as they reportedly close in on their move for Sesko.
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