Arsenal’s prolonged search for a new striker is beginning to test the patience of their supporters, as negotiations continue with Sporting Club and RB Leipzig over Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko. Both players have emerged as primary targets, yet a resolution remains elusive.
For more than two seasons, it has been widely acknowledged that the Gunners are in need of a natural centre-forward. While their use of a false nine has yielded mixed results, the need for a specialist striker has grown increasingly apparent, particularly for a club aiming to compete consistently at the highest level.
This summer, the club has shifted its focus towards addressing the issue decisively. Benjamin Sesko appears to be the preferred option for manager Mikel Arteta, with discussions ongoing between Arsenal and RB Leipzig to secure the Slovenian forward’s services.
Frustration Growing Over Wage Demands
Despite initial optimism, talks have reportedly stalled. According to Express Sports, the Gunners are growing frustrated with the lack of progress in negotiations. While Sesko is viewed as an ideal addition to the squad, the report suggests that his wage demands have proven to be a significant obstacle.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the player’s financial expectations may not align with Arsenal’s current salary structure. While clubs of Arsenal’s stature are used to meeting substantial wage packages, there remains a line that cannot be crossed without potentially disrupting squad harmony.
Club May Be Forced to Reassess Options
It is understandable that any player linked with a move to a top Premier League side would seek a lucrative deal. However, financial prudence remains an essential part of Arsenal’s recruitment strategy. The club must ensure that new arrivals do not create internal imbalances or disrupt the cohesion of the existing squad.
If Sesko continues to prioritise financial terms over sporting ambition, Arsenal may be forced to explore alternative targets. The window remains open, and time is still on the club’s side, but the sooner this issue is resolved, the better it will be for the manager’s preparations and for team stability heading into the new season.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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…
“Club May Be Forced to Reassess Options” – if true, let’s hope there’s workable Plan B ready to go.
addressing the issue decisively? We are doing many things (or not) in the transfer market but acting decisively is not one of them.
To me, this is typical Arsenal modus operandi. Haggle, negotiate, drag your feet until another decisive club emerges, and we are left empty-handed or until the final day of the window.
I,m not sure management/ admin are singing from the same hymn sheet as usual causing hesitation and frustration.Are you really serious about winning the league? Look at the signings Man City have made,and now Liverpool.
The answer is no mate
We all agree that there is dire need for a striker in this Arsenal side but if Sesko wants to earn more than the likes of Saka, Saliba, Rice, Gabriel then there’s a justifiable cause of moving to other options
Players from other leagues in Europe think that money is plentiful in England. Not one of strikers Arsenal is chasing deserve to earn more than our senior players. They are not world beaters. They want to hold Arsenal at ransom because they need a striker urgently 🙄
Sesko thinks he is on the same level with Isak or Haaland. He is another Havertz. Even Merino can do better
Which is a good reason to recruit from other PL teams. There’s some decent goal scorers out there for the same money or less than we’re being asked.
Is it Sesko demands is the problem now ? Pls can you confirm that?
This has been The Arsenal way in transfer dealings for many decades.
Why? I have no idea, as we seem the only club who ever does this!!
If Sesko is motivated by money over joining our club, then forget him!!
At least Gyokeres is battling it out with his current club and not demanding The Arsenal to renegotiate.
I agree
If he’s wants that release clause walk away
O same old Arsenal.
One would’ve thought Barta coming to n board will change a thing or two.
We drag our feet around available quality players manage to sign one or two and then cap it up with a Chelsea reject on loan or on a cheap. The modus oprandi.
*on
When I complain about those Chelsea rejects, I begin to hear excuses like:
Every transfer is unique
It’s not expensive
We have our hands tied
The player isn’t bad, blah blah blah.
I’ve always said that our rivals (especially Chelsea) will not sell us a good player
Go and buy Gyokeres simple
Just Victor he is pushing for the move and is more complete
No one knows what Sesko is asking or what the club are offering. Maybe we’re clearly offering unacceptable wages or the player is making unreasonable demands. We can’t judge.
But he’s clearly in a position of strength like Sancho did to Man Utd who pursued him for 2 years as though he was the only winger available. When it was time, United were held to ransom by the players camp and had to pay him about 350k p/w. Same thing is playing out with Sesko as his camp is probably seeing that we’ve been unwaveringly fixated on him for 2 seasons now like there’s no other striker. They’re negotiating from a position of strength and using it to their advantage.
Anyway, like I said, we don’t know right now. It’s all just speculation.
Sesko’s insistence on commanding extravagant wages before he’s even shown he can elevate the team is quite absurd. He should be focusing on proving himself on the pitch, especially in crucial matches against Arsenal. Let’s see him earn his place through performance and passion!
Sesko out, if buy out is true, and s wage over 150k are alot for 13 goal in germany striker.
Funny out it’s always some Gooners who make reasons why we can’t do signings
Watkins Villa price too high …
January no one available….
Osimhen has a bad attitude….
Now Sesko is asking for too much …..
Yet when it comes to Arteta salary and charging ticket prices …….the funny are not as hesitant lol
Funny that
There’s a solution for that. If fans stopped being sheeples and stop buying tickets the boards will begin to see our frustrations,but as we know some fans are content with 2nd spot as if it’s the 1st time in our history we finished 2nd! They’re arteta brainwashed ans will coddle him when he ends up signing yet more rejects /panic signs and fall for his pathetic excuses as always. I always said ,i don’t hate mikel, i do think he has brought improvement to the team but his character and lack of accountability as a manager makes me view him less and less as a man of integrity. I’m not saying he should pull a conte outburst at Tottenham but be more honest and take responsibility, instead he would rather made feeble claims that “Liverpool won the league by sheer luck” tf?! How can you respect a manager who is a sore loser? Never admits to his own mistakes or rumificate them at least in transfer windows? It is so bad that, even some gunners actually started to believe his dribble that Liverpool won by luck and the amount of injuries hindered our chances, forgetting that apart from signing Sterling & merino, the rest of our guys all failed in previous 2 successions! Therfore, what difference was them bein fit gonna make if they ended up “almost” because of the lack of a striker and backup wingers? Ridiculous!
I don’t respect arteta nor hold him in high standards, he is a coward, he is a beta, he is always a victim and never admits his faults…watch how he will twist the outcome failure of transfer (seems likely we’ll fail at getting our targets as it is) but i know he’ll make up a new excuse like, “we couldn’t get the player who fit our system” or “the transfer is tough to sign strikers” etc etc .
1. I don’t hate Mikel
2 I don’t respect Arteta or hold him in high standards, he’s a coward, he is a beta (?), he is always a victim and never admits his faults
3. All in one post!!
Talk about living in a parallel world Osibmethis!!
I hope and pray that Arsenal ppl are using this as distraction to also progress discreet negotiations with Isak’s team otherwise this will be same old situation with Arsenal!
It seems like sesko is our first choice, but we don’t want to give him a silly contact where he can jump ship as soon as someone “better” comes in – and gyokeres is the second option we’re stringing along in case we can’t reach an agreement with sesko. I was always more in favour of signing gyokeres as I think he’d be better for *next* season, and the reports that he really wants to join us makes me move even further into that camp.
If sesko has a strong desire to play for *arsenal*, and isn’t thinking of the next move already, I wouldn’t be so fussed, but the way it comes across is that he sees us as a stepping stone. I think he still has a lot to prove and don’t think we should be bending over backwards for anyone, but especially someone who hasn’t achieved anything yet.
Maybe it’s all just sesko’s representatives trying to protect him in case this move doesn’t work out, though – who knows really.
This is a strange one. Massive spending since Arteta took over, but now money and cost are an issue?
We have spent hundreds of millions, but a few millions could break the deal?
IF we truly have been chasing Sesko since last Summer, why now are they shocked by his wage demands?
Did they just find out?
Did he change his demands since last year?
If Sesko wages are excessive, what about Jesus? What about Havertz? Not like they are finishing with 20 PL goals in a season.
Look closer since 2008 mate and it’s not unusual
I’m hearing that Sesko wants a release clause and a large salary. That’s the issue.
We should walk away. We’re not among the European royalty at present, but we’re bigger than having release clauses for our players…meaning were beyond the level of players seeing us as a stepping stone from the onset.
It might also be fake news as I’m suspecting.