Arsenal could be impacted by today's mini Deadline Day.Arsenal could be impacted by today's mini Deadline Day.
Arsenal could be impacted by today's mini Deadline Day. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Saudi giants Al-Hilal have made a last ditch move for an Arsenal target ahead of the Club World Cup this summer.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta may not have been planning to feel the pressure of the first mini Deadline Day this summer but the Gunners chief must now spring into action this afternoon.
The transfer window closes at 7 pm tonight before reopening again on Monday, June 16. The new earlier week of business was approved to help teams competing in the Club World Cup and, while that is not Arsenal, it’s set to have a knock-on effect on Gunners transfer plans.
The north London club are known to be in the market for a talisman this summer. Arsenal struggled without the injured Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz for large parts of last season, lacking the killer instinct to turn 14 draws into wins and keep the heat on Champions Liverpool.
Former Atletico Madrid man Berta has now arrived at the Emirates Stadium to head up transfer strategy following the departure of Edu. The 53-year-old has been working on the signing of Martin Zubimendi, which seems imminent, and a focus on a striker is set to follow.
Arsenal face Saudi competition for Benjamin Sesko
The most likely candidate to come and lead the line for Arsenal appears to be RB Leipzig man Benjamin Sesko. Over the weekend, Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed that talks between the player and the Premier League club were ‘very positive’ despite no full agreement being reached. RB Leipzig had been awaiting an ‘official offer’ around the asking price of €80 - €100 million.
There’s no doubting that Sesko would be a marquee signing and a perfect candidate to lead the line. The 22-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and is proven in the Bundesliga, as well as Champions League.
However, Arsenal’s pursuit of the player had been handed a blow in today’s mini Deadline Day. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Saudi Pro League clubs have joined the race to sign Sesko, most worryingly Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal are involved in the Club World Cup and it has been speculated that the big-money outfit are looking to push hard and complete a deal on Tuesday. On paper, that seems ambitious, but Arsenal and Andrea Berta must not flirt with the risk.
The Saudi club are known to have money. They were ready to blow £100 million on Manchester United man Bruno Fernandes and still have that in the kitty after being rejected by the player. That would be more than enough to sign Sesko.
It’s understood that the Leipzig striker’s priority is to remain in Europe but all football fans know that money talks. Al-Hilal will be taking the Club World Cup very seriously too. The event comes with much global publicity, which Saudi clubs tend to love, and a last-minute marquee move for Sesko would generate all the right headlines for a club wanting to arrive on the big stage.
Manchester United approach Sporting CP over Viktor Gyokeres
Berta must therefore be on the phone to Sesko, reassuring him of Arsenal interest and that the money to compete with a Saudi offer is there. The need to do that comes with extra urgency given that Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres now the subject of an enquiry from Manchester United.
The former Coventry City man has also been linked with the Gunners but appeared to become a second-choice target to Sesko. Sky Sports have confirmed that the Red Devils have made an ‘initial approach’ for the player.
That transfer move has always seemed somewhat inevitable. Manchester United are also in need of a striker and Gyokeres’ alchemy with Ruben Amorim is famous. Gyokeres signed for Sporting from Coventry City in July 2023 and the player's agent Hasan Cetinkaya has been outspoken in the fact that Amorim was the reason that deal happened. He told Portuguese outlet Record: "Everyone was waiting for Viktor to sign with a Premier League club.
“I brought Viktor to Sporting for just one reason, and this is also something I said to Mr Amorim when I saw him for the first time. I said it before I even said hello to him: 'I only brought my player here because of you'. Therefore, I only brought Gyokeres to Sporting because of Ruben Amorim.
"There were eight Premier League clubs who made concrete proposals to Coventry and me, which guaranteed more money, more commissions and a higher transfer value than Sporting. I said no to everyone and told Viktor that Sporting was our next destination."
Arsenal must avoid the embarrassment of seeing their two top striking options disappear from sight in the space of 24 hours. Even if Andrea Berta doesn’t confirm a signing today, it has to be a busy day of transfer activity.
In other news, Transfer Deadline Day: What Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are working on today.
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