Arsenal will be in the market for a new striker this summer.
Indeed, Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal will definitely sign a new number nine at the end of the season.
The Gunners have a number of strikers on their radar at the moment.
Ollie Watkins continues to be linked to Arsenal, while Alexander Isak is the Gunners’ dream target.
Arsenal have been linked to Benjamin Sesko recently too, and while some inside Arsenal have reservations about signing Sesko, others at the club want to push to get a deal done according to David Ornstein, speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast.
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Some at Arsenal want to push to sign Benjamin Sesko
Ornstein shared what he knows about Sesko and Arsenal’s interest.
The journalist says that the Gunners have done a lot of work on this deal, and many at the club still want to push forward to get the deal done for the £60m man.
“They’ve done a hell of a lot of work on Benjamin Sesko, and rightly so. Many at the club would like to push forward with that potential opportunity. His footballing profile, his age profile,” Ornstein said.
“There are other suitors too. I think there are some reservations on whether he’s quite ready for what they want to do, which James described as delivering major trophies now. Is there somebody that can come in and help with that immediate priority?”
Arsenal’s recent young signings
It’s easy to see why some at Arsenal are sold on the idea of signing Sesko.
Sesko has tons of great qualities, and at the age of just 21, there’s this idea that his game can be refined and he will improve even more in the future.
However, Arsenal’s eye for young talents hasn’t quite been there in recent years.
Yes, the Hale End products are consistently becoming stars – Bukayo Saka is a world-class player, while Ethan Nwaneri looks like the real deal too.
However, when Arsenal have actively gone out to sign players aged 21 or younger in recent times, their record has been iffy.
Arsenal’s recent U21 signings Age when signed
Gabriel Martinelli 18
William Saliba 18
Marquinhos 19
Fabio Vieira 21
Calum Chambers 19
Albert Sambi Lokonga 21
Matteo Guendouzi 18
Nuno Tavares 21
William Saliba has been an incredible purchase, while Gabriel Martinelli was a success story, but, beyond that, Arsenal’s youth signings have been somewhat wayward.
Matteo Guendouzi was quickly ushered out, Marquinhos has barely played a game for Arsenal, while Calum Chambers didn’t make the right sort of impact either.
Arsenal have an up-and-down hit rate when trying to sniff out these young stars, and it’s unclear whether Sesko would be another Saliba or another Fabio Vieira.
Sesko could be worth a punt, but Arsenal perhaps do have better, more proven, options out there.