Arsenal have ignited transfer speculation this summer.
Reports reveal that a highly-rated striker now prefers joining the Gunners over Manchester United. Moreover, a “significant” bid is reportedly in the pipeline to secure his services.
The need for a potent new striker has grown urgent for Arsenal this season. In the winter window, the club tabled a £60m bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. However, Watkins opted to stay at Villa after they decided against selling him, following the departure of Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has provided further insight into Arsenal’s plans. He confirmed that the club considered several options, including dream targets like Benjamin Sesko and nearly impossible ones like Alexander Isak. Furthermore, Romano stressed that Arsenal knew early on that Isak would be tough to secure in January.
Alexander Isak’s situation remains complicated. Newcastle, his current club, will likely retain him if they qualify for the Champions League. Consequently, even if a sale is considered, the fee would not drop below £120m. Therefore, Arsenal have postponed pursuing him until the summer transfer window.
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Meanwhile, the spotlight now shines on 21-year-old Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. The striker is valued between €70m and €75m (approximately £58.3m-£62.5m). Additionally, sources reveal that Sesko prefers Arsenal’s project over those of Chelsea and Manchester United, which makes the Gunners’ approach even more enticing.
Last summer, Arsenal along with Chelsea and Manchester United were ready to trigger Sesko’s old £55m release clause. However, on June 12, Sesko signed a new deal with Leipzig that removed this clause entirely. Instead, a gentleman’s agreement now governs his potential summer 2025 move, and thus the transfer scenario has grown more complex.
Arsenal remain undeterred, as they intend to make a significant bid for Sesko at the end of the season. Nevertheless, the absence of an official release clause adds uncertainty to the deal. Moreover, RB Leipzig are already debating whether to keep the young star for the 2025/26 campaign or even longer.
In other transfer developments, Real Madrid have stepped into the fray over Martin Zubimendi. Initially, Arsenal looked set to trigger Zubimendi’s €60m release clause for the Real Sociedad midfielder. However, Real Madrid have mobilized and are now advancing their interest, while also exploring moves for one of Mikel Arteta’s leading defenders. Consequently, Arsenal’s plans face fresh challenges as the summer window draws near.
