Arsenal have lit a fire under the summer transfer window, dropping a staggering £88 million to secure a marquee striker, just as Kai Havertz inches closer to jumping ship for a lucrative Saudi move.
With neither Havertz nor Gabriel Jesus delivering the goods up front, sporting director Andrea Berta has made it crystal clear: the club’s top priority is locking down a ruthless, no-nonsense goal-scorer.
Their pursuit has wavered between two standout options—RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres—but it’s starting to feel like they need to make a decision and stick to it.
Sesko, with his £70 million tag, is said to be more straightforward to negotiate for, while Gyokeres—also wanted by Manchester United—would take some extra wrangling.While whispers of a gentleman’s agreement suggested Gyokeres might go for £59 million, Sporting’s execs quickly shut that down, demanding closer to £68 million instead.
That’s a hefty price for a striker who’s yet to dominate in one of Europe’s elite leagues, regardless of how lethal his numbers look on paper.Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins hasn’t dropped off the radar. Arsenal already tried to lure him in January with a £60 million offer, which Villa firmly declined. But now, Watkins could come at a serious discount—possibly half the cost of Sesko or Gyokeres—making him a financially smarter fallback option.
According to Portugal’s Record, who’ve been tracking the Gyokeres situation with eagle eyes, Arsenal haven’t cut ties with Watkins’ camp. There’s a sense that Villa might be willing to do business at under £40 million—a potential bargain compared to their overseas targets.
The English striker, who bagged 17 goals last season, was supposed to be with the national squad this summer but withdrew due to a minor injury. Despite his solid output, his stock at Villa has dropped under Unai Emery, who’s been hesitant to rely on him in high-stakes fixtures.
Watkins hasn’t shied away from voicing his displeasure either. After being benched during Villa’s Champions League clash with PSG, he publicly vented his frustration, making it clear he’s not interested in being a background figure. He believes he deserves the spotlight, not just a walk-on part.
On top of that, Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a £49 million Brazilian winger and another exciting talent also eyed by Manchester United. If even a few of these deals go through, Arsenal’s squad could be transformed into a dream-team lineup—one that’s either built to conquer everything or risk collapsing under its own hype.
