Arsenal’s hunt for a new centre-forward this summer has taken a decisive turn, with the club narrowing in on Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres after walking away from negotiations for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. The shift wasn’t driven by a sudden change of heart, but rather by strategic necessity, born from mounting frustration behind the scenes.
The Gunners had made it a summer priority to land a prolific No. 9—an urgency underscored by the awkward sight of Mikel Merino filling in up top during the final weeks of the season. With Champions League ambitions and domestic silverware in their sights, Arsenal knew they couldn’t afford to enter another campaign without a reliable focal point in attack.
For weeks, Sesko and Gyökeres topped Arsenal’s shortlist. Parallel negotiations were held as Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta tried to engineer a breakthrough. But while Sporting showed flexibility, RB Leipzig held firm. Reports indicate that Leipzig director of football Marcel Schäfer flatly refused to entertain offers below €90 million—despite Arsenal’s efforts to negotiate a more balanced deal.
That impasse became a turning point.
Sources close to the club describe growing frustration not just with Leipzig, but with Sesko’s own camp. Arsenal and Sesko’s representatives never fully aligned on personal terms, and the pace of talks stalled to the point of irritation. Leipzig’s insistence on receiving €40 million upfront and spreading the remaining €40 million over fewer instalments was seen as overly rigid.
Miguel Delaney of The Independent revealed that Arsenal were still at least €10 million shy of Leipzig’s valuation last week, with negotiations dragging on without tangible progress. For a club that prides itself on precision and planning under Arteta, this drawn-out process wasn’t sustainable.
By contrast, the pathway to signing Gyökeres began to open. The Swedish striker’s willingness to compromise—reportedly even agreeing to reduce his salary demands—has gone down well at London Colney. Arsenal are now actively working on the structure of a deal worth around €80 million, including add-ons.
Gyökeres’ numbers speak for themselves: 97 goals in 102 games since moving to Lisbon in 2023. His blend of physicality, movement, and composure in front of goal offers Arsenal a profile they’ve lacked since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s peak years. He isn’t just a stopgap—he’s a striker with the attributes to thrive in the Premier League and elevate Arsenal’s attacking ceiling.
For Arteta and Edu, the mission has always been clear: deliver a centre-forward who can finish chances at the elite level. In Gyökeres, they may have found their man—not by default, but through pragmatism. When the Sesko pursuit became a dead end, Arsenal pivoted with purpose, and now appear close to landing a striker who actually wants to wear the shirt and fits their system.
If all goes according to plan, the Emirates could soon have a new No. 9 ready to take Arsenal’s project into its next phase—one forged not just in talent, but in timing and tenacity.
