Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been given a bit of encouragement over signing a prolific striker, as his stance on a potential switch to London emerges.
Strikers who Arsenal could sign this summer
It is perhaps football’s worst-kept secret that the Gunners need a new number nine sooner rather than later, with current strike force Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus sidelined after picking up long-term injury problems.
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There are even suggestions that Jesus could be out until 2026 after he ruptured his ACL during Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round defeat to Man United, while Havertz won’t begin to return to action until pre-season preparations for next campaign.
Arsenal did attempt to reinforce Arteta’s centre-forward options in January, submitting a low-ball £40 million offer for Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins (The Times), but Unai Emery’s side rejected it out of hand.
Man Utd (away)
March 9th
Chelsea (home)
March 16th
Fulham (home)
April 1st
Everton (away)
April 5th
Brentford (home)
April 12th
Villa were said to be outraged by the timing of Arsenal’s approach for Watkins, which was on the eve of their pivotal Champions League clash with Celtic, but they were prepared to negotiate at a starting fee of around £60 million – a figure which Arteta’s side decided not to reach (The Times).
Arsenal then ended the winter window without obtaining a new goalscorer, with Arteta now forced to wait until the summer for his club to resolve the glaring lack of options up front.
In terms of their rumoured targets for next season, many high-profile names are attracting attention from N5, with Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović high on Arsenal’s transfer shortlist amid Italian reports the club are prepared to open talks.
Arsenal have retained their interest in signing Watkins as an option as well, while Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is believed to be a dream target for Arteta.
RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko also remains a very serious target for the north Londoners. The Slovenia international is dazzling in Germany yet again this season, having scored 17 goals in all competitions already, which is just one shy of his entire tally from last campaign.
Arsenal had a proposal to sign Sesko rejected last summer, with the 21-year-old deciding to remain at Leipzig on the condition of a gentlemen’s agreement they’ll allow him to leave this summer or in 2026 (Fabrizio Romano).
Benjamin Sesko has privately told Arsenal he'd like a move to London
Journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, has shared an update on their chances of landing the sensation.
According to his information, Sesko has privately told suitors, including Arsenal, that he’d prefer a move to London. While this hands the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea a slight boost, Bailey also writes that other elite Premier League sides like Liverpool are still firmly in contention for his signature.
What comes as more good news, though, is that Leipzig will help to orchestrate his transfer and won’t stand in Sesko’s way as long as they’re satisfied with the final proposal. The Bundesliga outfit could even let him leave for a fee lower than his £58 million release clause.
Arsenal and Chelsea are also believed to be frontrunners for his signature as things stand, despite enquiries from Liverpool.
The striker, who’s been heralded for his “extremely quick” burst of pace, would suit English football down to the ground as a physically imposing frontman with an impressive scoring record.