Arsenal's summer striker search is set to be one of the major topics for discussion in N5, with two big-names in Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko rumoured to be Andrea Berta's top two targets.
Arsenal hold talks over signing Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko
Reports from reliable media sources indicate that this centre-forward duo feature the highest on Berta's striker target list.
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They've now pulled out of the deal.
Sesko is fresh off the back of a career-best Bundesliga campaign with Leipzig - bettering his 2023/2024 tally with 21 goals in all competitions - while Gyokeres has quite simply been unstoppable with 54 goals in total across 24/25.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) Money on new signings
19/20 - winter £0
20/21 - summer £81.5m
20/21 - winter £900k
21/22 - summer £156.8m
21/22 - winter £1.8m
22/23 - summer £121.5m
22/23 - winter £59m
23/24 - summer £208m
23/24 - winter £0
24/25 - summer £101.5m
24/25 - winter £0
Berta has held extensive talks over a move for Gyokeres (Florian Plettenberg), but Arsenal have also since begun concrete negotiations for Sesko as well - leading to some confusion over who the club's main target actually is.
Sky Germany's Plettenberg reported last week that their focus is on both men, but either deal would prove to be "extremely expensive", prompting Berta to consider the two options very carefully.
Either way, another reliable journalist in David Ornstein fully expects one of Gyokeres or Sesko to seal a switch to Arsenal last summer.
"They've got a decision to make between Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon, both fantastic options and talents," said Ornstein to NBC Sports.
"I do expect one of them to come into the Emirates Stadium this summer."
BBC journalist shares update on Arsenal signing Sesko or Gyokeres
Responding to this burning question in a Q&A, about whether Arsenal are going to sign Sesko or Gyokeres, the BBC's Sami Mokbel has shared "information" on Arsenal's talks for the pair.
He says that Arsenal are attempting to confirm the "frameworks" when it comes to deals for Sesko or Gyokeres, before they make a final decision on who to go for.
"In terms of Gyokeres or Sesko – my information is that the club are working towards confirming the frameworks of both deals before making a final decision on which to proceed with," said Mokbel.
gyokeres-sporting
"Sesko has near-universal backing at the Emirates but, crucially, will be the more expensive deal. Gyokeres’ chances of moving to Arsenal have increased since Andrea Berta’s appointment as sporting director. Price is key here. Sesko ticks many boxes in terms of profile, he is younger than Gyokeres and plays in a stronger league (the Bundesliga) according to recruitment data. But some of the reported figures indicate he could cost £93million.
"Gyokeres is more economical, but would see the club divert from their longer-term strategy given Sesko has always been a target."
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko celebrates
Sesko already rejected a move to Arsenal last summer, so he's been a long-term target for Arteta, pre-dating Berta's arrival as sporting director.
Given just how highly the Spaniard must rate him, splashing in around £93m for the 22-year-old would be a real show of backing to their manager by the Arsenal board.