Arsenal journalist Charles Watts would have one “big fear” if the Gunners move for Sporting Lisbon centre-forward Viktor Gyokeres over RB Leipzig‘s Benjamin Sesko this summer.
The Sweden and Slovenia internationals appear to be Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta‘s two prime striker targets for the upcoming window, as Arsenal have seemingly accepted that a move for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is a non-starter.
Arsenal are said to be closing in on an agreement with Gyokeres on personal terms, and the ex-Coventry City man could be available for a reasonable £60m-£70m this summer, slightly less than Sesko’s £75m release clause.
However, as the latter is considerably younger, Watts is slightly concerned about the prospect of Alexander Isak 2.0 with Sesko if Arsenal put all of their attacking eggs in the Gyokeres basket this summer.
Asked by Sports Mole whether he would prefer Gyokeres or Sesko, Watts said: “That’s the million-dollar question! I honestly don’t know. In terms of who I want them to go for, it’s like a flip of a coin. I’m so on the fence. I don’t mind either of them; just whoever it is, I want them to get them early.
Arsenal could risk “Isak-type situation” by signing Gyokeres
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“I’ll be happy with either of them. They’re both very, very good. Sesko’s got the potential to become an absolute superstar. That’s my one fear if it is Gyokeres, who I think would be great – I don’t get a lot of the negative criticism – but my big fear is that he comes in, someone else gets Sesko, and then two years down the line, we’re looking at Sesko like another Alexander Isak-type situation.
“But that’s for Arsenal to decide. Either of them are quality, they’ll bring different attributes and will improve the team. I have absolutely no doubt about that. The last thing they want to do is get caught napping and then suddenly end up with neither, which would be a very realistic thing because the striker market is going to be so competitive this summer.
“So many clubs are looking for a number nine. Arsenal need to make sure they’re at the front of the queue and they can execute it really, really quickly. That’s why Andrea Berta has been brought in.”
While Gyokeres is expected to be one of the hottest properties on the attacking market, having scored a sensational 53 goals in 51 matches this season, Arsenal have been just one of three clubs seriously linked with a move.
Barcelona and Manchester United have been tipped to battle the Gunners for the Sweden international, but La Blaugrana appear to have cooled their interest, while Man United could endure a year without European football in 2025-26.
However, the Red Devils will earn a golden ticket to the Champions League – which will likely be a key factor in determining Gyokeres’s future – and the 26-year-old’s strong relationship with Ruben Amorim is well-documented.
Should Arsenal fear Man United Gyokeres hijack?
© Imago
After a successful spell at Coventry in the Championship, Gyokeres immediately blossomed into one of Europe’s most feared strikers under the Portuguese, who is expected to stay on at Old Trafford for next season regardless of what happens in Wednesday’s final against Tottenham Hotspur.
Asked if Man United winning the Europa League made him fearful of a possible hijack, Watts replied: “It would make sense, wouldn’t it? It’s going to be so competitive and they [Man United] need one. No doubt about that. Gyokeres and Amorim have worked really well together. You put two and two together and you’d think they’d certainly be in the market for him.
“We know that they like Liam Delap. That could be one that that might well happen, but maybe they’ll go for two. I’m sure they [Arsenal] have made a decision. But Mikel said it, the plan is set now.
“I’m sure in those confines of those rooms at the Emirates, in the boardroom, they know that the guy that they’re going for. Just don’t leave yourself in a position where something like that could happen where United suddenly come knocking and the player you’re expecting to sign goes elsewhere.
“And then you’re left like, ‘well, what the hell do we do now?’ You can’t afford that, they’ve got to get this summer right. It’s imperative for me that the plan they have, they execute it very, very swiftly with real intent.”
Recent reports have indeed claimed that Man United could try to ‘gazump’ Arsenal in the race for Gyokeres, but the Red Devils will almost certainly have to sell before they can buy this summer, while the Gunners are not treading such a tightrope financially.
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