Mikel Arteta is likely regretting Arsenal's missed opportunity to sign Benjamin Sesko last summer, as his pursuit of Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres appears to have hit a roadblock. The Gunners manager has been on the hunt for a prolific striker for over a year, with significant efforts made to bring RB Leipzig's Sesko to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal's struggles in front of goal were a key reason they missed out on the Premier League title last season. Injuries to crucial attacking players allowed Liverpool to surge ahead and clinch their 20th top-flight crown. With a move for current top target Gyokeres now seemingly at a standstill due to a significant difference in valuation for the Sporting CP forward, Arsenal may be looking back with regret at the extensive efforts made to sign Sesko over the past 18 months.
Sesko, 22, ultimately chose to stay with the German side last summer, believing that remaining with Leipzig would be best for his career progression. The Independent has suggested that a deal could have been reached for £50million (€58m), however.
The new contract he subsequently signed, and the 21 goals he scored in all competitions last season, pushed his price up to between £69m (€80m) and £86m (€100m), forcing Arsenal to pull the plug on a move for Sesko this summer and pivot toward Gyokeres, 27.
Yet, with Sporting now reportedly commanding £60m (€70m) up front from the north London club, with £8m (€9.2m) in add-ons to follow, there will be a brutal reality check for Arteta that Arsenal could have bowed to Leipzig's lesser demands last summer.
Not only would this have provided Arteta with the striker he craved throughout last season, but it would also have saved the club a significant amount of money, with Sporting's asking price for Gyokeres toppling that of Leipzig's 2024 demand for Sesko by some margin.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal will revisit their interest in Sesko, but it might now prove challenging given the Slovenian star is fully aware that any interest in him comes at the expense of a failed bid for Gyokeres. Nevertheless, he was previously their top target.
Arteta is keen to bolster his attacking options before Arsenal jet off to Singapore for a pre-season tour of Asia on July 19. Swedish international Gyokeres has made it clear that he wants to join the Gunners this summer and has no plans to play for the Portuguese side again.
Despite interest from Manchester United, Arsenal emerged as the favourites to sign the former Coventry City striker.
Andrea Berta, the Gunners' sporting director, was recently in Portugal attempting to reach an agreement, but according to Portuguese publication Record, negotiations have stalled over the transfer fee.
Personal terms for a five-year contract with Gyokeres are already agreed upon, with additional clauses related to goal and trophy bonuses. Since August 2023, he has netted an impressive 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting.
Sesko has scored 39 goals and provided eight assists in 87 matches for Leipzig. This summer, Arsenal have already secured the signings of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, with Brentford captain Christian Norgaard expected to be the next addition.