Within the Premier League, Arsenal have been left to bemoan their lack of a match centre-forward.
Fact be informed, even earlier than Kai Havertz sustained a season-ending hamstring harm, they wanted extra cowl in an attacking space.
Simply weeks earlier than, Gabriel Jesus was dealt a merciless blow of his personal, choosing up an ACL harm meaning we’re unlikely to see him play once more in 2025.
That did not spur the recruitment workforce on the Emirates Stadium into life and so they have been made to pay the value since.
Nonetheless, Mikel Merino has been in effective kind since turning into the membership’s main quantity 9, scoring six targets in his ten outings as a striker. Not unhealthy numbers certainly.
Nonetheless, the Spaniard, regardless of his unbelievable end towards Actual Madrid, isn’t the long-term reply.
Arsenal’s hopes of signing a brand new striker
Andrea Berta has now been within the job just a few weeks and his major goal over the summer season switch window should be to strengthen the membership’s offence.
It guarantees to be an thrilling summer season at Colney with the Gunners not solely needing a brand new ahead but in addition a winger, a back-up goalkeeper and probably even a midfielder. Martin Zubimendi is reportedly edging shut in the direction of a deal.
So, who will the shiny new striker be? That is the query on everybody’s lips down at N5.
David Ornstein confirmed just a few weeks in the past that Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres is one in all their main targets however work can be being completed on Benjamin Sesko.
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A flurry of reviews linked the Slovenian with a transfer final summer season however he ended up penning new phrases with German membership RB Leipzig.
A yr on and his departure from the Bundesliga seems to be much more probably. Certainly, in line with TEAMtalk, Arsenal proceed to maintain a ‘shut on’ on the 21-year-old with new steps now taken in a bid to safe his signature.
The report notes that the London membership have had ‘direct contact’ with the participant’s camp to debate a transfer and the sensation after that assembly has been a optimistic one.
Sesko’s contract – which expires in 2029 – at present accommodates a launch clause valued at round €70m (£60m).
How Sesko compares to Haaland and Isak
A number of years in the past, Arsenal had been monitoring the progress of Alexander Isak. The Swede was at Actual Sociedad on the time and wasn’t but a really rampant goalscorer.
The yr was 2022 and Isak’s contract in Spain additionally contained a launch clause, one which was barely greater than Sesko’s at about £75m.
Sadly, the Gunners deemed that too costly and since then, he signed for Newcastle for £63m and grow to be one of many Premier League’s main lights, scoring 20 targets this time period, third to solely Erling Haaland and Mo Salah within the top-flight.
So, Arsenal should study their lesson. Miss out on Sesko now and you possibly can be taking a look at a price ticket of over £100m in just a few years’ time.
The Slovenia worldwide will not be the completed article simply but, however he possesses a singular profile and Berta should purchase now, with Arteta undoubtedly being able to show him right into a top-class expertise, identical to Isak.
Certainly, if Arteta can get a tune out of Merino within the membership’s ahead line, a midfielder by commerce, simply suppose what he may do with an precise striker.
Objectives scored by Arsenal targets: 2024/25 | ||
---|---|---|
Participant | Video games performed | Objectives scored |
Viktor Gyokeres | 45 | 44 |
Victor Osimhen | 33 | 29 |
Alexander Isak | 35 | 24 |
Hugo Ekitike | 41 | 20 |
Benjamin Sesko | 40 | 19 |
Matheus Cunha | 29 | 15 |
Stats by way of Transfermarkt. |
Described as “the brand new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, Sesko has discovered the web 19 occasions in 40 matches this time period and appears to be getting higher season by season, nonetheless aged 21.
Like Haaland, he is a tall centre-forward. The Norwegian stands at 6 foot 4 whereas the Arsenal goal is a fraction taller at 6 foot 5.
What that enables the pair of them to do is quite a few issues. Not solely are they bodily however their prolonged working stride and tempo makes them a complete nightmare for a defensive position.
Sesko wouldn’t get as a lot time and house within the Premier League, one thing Haaland is now all too aware of, however their video games marry up properly when assessing their ball hanging as effectively.
Simply have a look at the thunderbolt beneath from Leipzig’s star man. It is a factor of magnificence and one thing that, let’s be sincere, no Arsenal participant within the present squad is able to.
Maybe the most important distinction is that Sesko is definitely right-footed, however that is not a foul factor, significantly when you think about Havertz is left-footed, that means Berta can be including extra selection to the assault.
Whereas somebody like Gyokeres – who has scored 44 targets this season – and Isak, a confirmed Premier League striker, can be superb signings, maybe the perfect factor to do is exit and get Sesko, an unpolished diamond however somebody who possesses elite potential.
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