Arsenal are active early doors as we enter the mini-summer transfer window, which is open from June 1 to June 10, and gives Andrea Berta the chance to register new players in quick fashion before pre-season.
Arsenal in “concrete” Benjamin Sesko talks as Berta gets busy
Despite Berta holding extensive discussions over a move for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres (Florian Plettenberg), with reports in Portugal also suggesting they’ve made a contract offer to the Sweden international, it now appears RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is the favourite to become Arsenal’s new striker as things stand.
Related
Thierry Henry hails “complete” £114k-p/w star who Arsenal are favourites to sign
The Gunners legend has explained why he’d be a fantastic addition.
Earlier this week, trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano shared information from his sources that “concrete” talks over signing Sesko have started, and this is echoed by Sky Germany’s Plettenberg.
|
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 is said to have met with Leipzig director, Marcel Schafer, in London a few days ago, where they discussed the Slovenia international’s future. Arsenal’s focus is currently on Sesko, despite still having Gyokeres high up their shortlist of striker targets, with club-to-club negotiations underway.
Sesko bagged 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last term, bettering his tally of 18 from the previous season, and he already rejected a proposal to join the Gunners last summer, as well as offers from Chelsea and Man United, in favour of remaining at his current club.
Arteta is also reported to be a big fan of Sesko behind-the-scenes, with the Spaniard refusing to give up as Arsenal attempt to lure the 22-year-old to north London once again.
Arsenal offered Leroy Sane amid Benjamin Sesko talks
Arsenal also want to sign a new winger this summer, and they’ve been “very active” in the market when it comes to this key goal. Berta has held “numerous talks” with potential targets (Florian Plettenberg), with Bayern Munich’s £242,000-per-week winger Leroy Sane emerging as a key option.
Credible media sources report that Arsenal are looking at signing Sane on a free transfer (The Times), with talks over a new Bayern deal failing to reach a conclusion as things stand, despite the efforts of super-agent Pini Zahavi.
Now, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, answering questions in a Q&A, claims Arsenal have been “offered” the chance to sign Sane on a free deal, alongside Tottenham, but their London rivals are unlikely to take up this opportunity.
“He’s [Sane] been offered to Spurs and Arsenal but could also stay at Bayern Munich,” said Bridge.
“I don’t think Spurs will sign him.”
The 29-year-old possesses great top-level experience from his time at Man City and in Bavaria, scoring a century of goals across those two spells with a further 99 assists in all competitions.
He could be a fantastic alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side, but his desired contract could prove problematic. Sane is apparently after a £192,000-per-week base salary with £2.5 million in bonuses and a signing-on fee to remain at Bayern (Sky and Sport Bild), so it remains to be seen if Berta is willing to give in to those demands.
