The question of which striker Arsenal will move for this summer has been on the minds of many since Andrea Berta was appointed as the club’s new sporting director back in March.
No sooner had the Italian settled into his role at London Colney than rumours surfaced suggesting Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres had emerged as a top target.
Given the Swede’s eye-watering numbers in Portugal, the links made sense. Arsenal have long been on the hunt for a central striker — someone capable of adding a new dimension to the attack — and Gyokeres certainly fits the profile.
Other names have been floated, too. Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and Brighton’s Joao Pedro have all been mentioned as potential alternatives, while Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is widely believed to be out of reach, at least financially.
Meanwhile, interest in Benjamin Sesko never really went away. The 21-year-old Slovenian was high on Mikel Arteta’s wishlist last summer, but a move failed to materialise after the player opted to stay at Leipzig, signing a new deal through to 2029 safe in the knowledge playing time was guaranteed.
Now, it seems Sesko is back at the top of the list. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners are preparing to make their move for a player who has 39 goals in 87 appearances since moving to the Red Bull Arena.
Quite what it will take to get the deal done remains unclear. Reports suggest the striker’s release clause has risen to €80 million, although Leipzig are said to be holding out for a higher fee – potentially closer to €100 million – in exchange for a more flexible payment structure. Other sources suggest the German side would be open to a slightly lower bid if the bulk of the cash is paid up front. In short, it’s murky.
A deal of this potential scale seems unlikely to be finalised quickly, but Arsenal’s intent is clear – we know we need goals, we’ve kept our powder dry, and Arteta wants to act early.
Definitely one to watch.