By now, many Arsenal fans would have expected Benjamin Šeško to be a Gunner. Yet the highly anticipated move has stalled, raising questions over the club’s seemingly cautious approach.
Heading into the summer transfer window, there was little doubt that Arsenal needed a top-class striker. Their failure to convert dominance into goals last season proved costly, and many believe a prolific forward is the missing piece in their bid for the Premier League title.
While a new striker is still considered a priority, the decision over who to sign remains unresolved.
Arsenal deliberate as Šeško edges ahead
The two most talked-about names are Benjamin Šeško and Viktor Gyökeres. According to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, Arsenal are convinced by both but are leaning towards Šeško, who is widely seen as the better fit for Mikel Arteta’s tactical system.
Mokbel also reports that the total cost of the Šeško deal could rise to £93 million. Despite this significant figure, Arsenal have not rushed into finalising an agreement.
So why the delay?
German journalist Philipp Hinze recently offered some insight. “Benjamin Šeško: Arsenal are the only club to have made concrete contact with Leipzig so far. Manchester United are interested but have not yet negotiated with Leipzig. Arsenal are so far the only club in contact with both sides, with RB Leipzig and Šeško,” he said.
This suggests Arsenal feel they are in control of the situation. Leipzig, having failed to qualify for the Champions League, are reportedly open to a sale, and the player himself is believed to favour a move.
Patience or risk in transfer strategy?
While Arsenal’s measured approach could help reduce the transfer fee, there is an inherent risk. The longer they wait, the more time other top clubs have to enter the race. Juventus, Manchester United and Liverpool are all in the market for a striker, and Šeško’s 21 goals in 45 appearances will not go unnoticed.
Despite the current lack of competition, delays in negotiations can change the dynamics quickly. Arsenal’s intent is clear, but action may now be required.
Sporting Director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta must weigh the benefits of patience against the risk of losing their preferred target. Securing Šeško early would allow the club to move swiftly on to strengthening other key areas of the squad.
What are your thoughts on Sesko Gooners?
Daniel O
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
With the look of things, I don’t think arsenal is ready to spend on any striker. They’re just playing the fans. Other clubs are strengthening their team while we’re busy speculating on who to buy. Anyways it’s well.
Without an official announcement, we don’t know what’s really going on in the respective boardrooms.
For example, if the story about Arsenal and Sociedad not announcing a deal for Zubimendi until the new accounting year opens on July 1st is true, it could very well be the same case with a striker deal too.
Hopeless club. They already know the cheap flop they will bring in at last minute. Then start giving excuses. It’s not a new strategy. This is the tactics used to avoid buying. The only thing associated to me that fails is ARSENAL. They are so happy coming 2nd in table..
That fee is just crazy and he is not worth it.
If another club pays that fee and it works out amazingly, we’ll they great for them.
93m is a lot yeah. I highly doubt we’d pay that for him in the end…
£93m 😂, I wonder where that figure came from 😂😂🤔
The mods in this group are pulling numbers and other “news” out of their a*ses (as usual…) and so many fools in here are always believing it all (as usual…) 🤣🤣🤣
Mokbel’s fevered imagination, I suspect! Perhaps he should lay off the white stuff.
I haven’t watched him play live. But from what I’ve heard, he’s a good footballer. However, I think he is too expensive at £93m. I’m sure he would cost less than that if they are to go ahead and sign him.
But Arsenal FC should move swiftly to close the deal and move on to other targets.
The way Arsenal goes about their transfer targets is always irritating. They always price and price players until serious clubs gazumped them. The same thing they did last year when they failed to buy Joan Garcia from Espanyol. Barcelona has now got him. The same dithering system they are now employing for Sesko and Gyokeres. This is not how to enforce thrifts. We see how Man City and other serious clubs get the player they need.
Arsenal would have won two EPL league cups under Arteta by now if the board had been proactive in strengthening the squad with a prolific striker and depth.
This was apparently Berta’s way of working at Atletico. Make interest known in parallel top targets, do the assessments, and see how it plays out in the market. If one target goes, move fast to grab the other when the selling club has less available bidders. It’s a risky strategy in a tight market but then again, these are players only a few clubs can afford.
Annoying for us, fans but helpful to know that’s his modus operandi…
Thanks for the explanation, as it was beginning to worry even positive old me!!
This approach is not unique to Berta. It has been part of Arsenal’s approach to transfers before. It is also a strategy used by other clubs.
I mean that makes for a sound strategy, my only worry is that we would lose our number 1 targets and have to settle for an alternative(which would not be necessarily bad but our number 1 target was our number 1 target for a reason)
Also it’s somewhat of a panic-buy situation if he is going to move fast to get another target because he lost one (just an opinion, I am open to discussions on this)
Or any deal for that matter!!!
There is some thing wrong with Arsenal decision making. It is poor. We thought things could change with new director,but it seems things have not change! Who is responsible with this weaknesses, I think is the Manger. He should go if he the causing this weakness!
We probably want to sign him but don’t want to pay silly money. l wouldn’t go about 40 or 50m based on what I’ve seen, and most of that is for potential improvement. You don’t pay star money for someone who’s not yet a proven star.
Or it could be that this is all nonsense, he’s on his way for a more reasonable amount and the hold up is something more mundane to do with finances. Who knows?
IMO – Go for Nick Woltemade instead, if the price for him remain crazy. And spend money on other quality attacking players.
Feeling in control and BEING in control are two different things. I really hope more is being done in the background to get these transfers done, because all this playing out in front of us is just a bit of an irritation. I mean we knew who are targets have been and what they could cost(All the framework should have been done by now, especially the Sesko deal, what changed from Jan until now?). When it’s Arsenal “a deal” is always complicated / impossible / not straightforward(Is it like that with other Top EPL teams?).
Nick Woltemade is a strong alternative to Benjamin Sesko if the price for the latter is unreasonable. With a lower transfer fee, breakthroughs in the Bundesliga, physical presence, development potential and tactical flexibility, Woltemade would be a financially and sportingly sensible signing for Arsenal, who could strengthen their attack without breaking the budget. That would give us the financial room to buy players like Eze/Gibbs-White, Gittens/Williams or Rodrygo
RB want far too much for Sesko they value him far too highly. Arsenal do do want to pay what they want, and righly so. I think ultimately it will be down to how much the player wants Arsenal and how high Arsenal will go, knowing that they are still persuing Gyocores. Arsenal know there is no other teams actively chasing Sesko, they think that should bring his price down. In the real world, it does……..
Not do do but do not🤣