Deal Nearing Completion: Arsenal Agree Initial Fee for £60m Striker as Saka Awaits Major Boost – Report
Arsenal appear to be closing in on the signing of a new striker, with reports suggesting an initial agreement has been reached for a £60 million deal—news that Bukayo Saka, in particular, is likely to welcome.
Sporting Director Andrea Berta has made it his priority this summer to bring in a top-class centre-forward to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s attacking options. While Arsenal have yet to officially confirm any new signings, several players are believed to be close to joining the club, including Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, and Martin Zubimendi. The latter has been widely praised, with Spain manager Luis de la Fuente and European analysts hailing him as one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the game.
However, the glaring issue remains Arsenal’s lack of a new striker.
Latest on Arsenal’s Striker Search
Arsenal are reportedly targeting two main candidates for the No. 9 role: Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
Sesko was linked to Arsenal last summer but remained at RB Leipzig. This time, Leipzig are believed to be open to selling him, with the asking price reportedly reduced from €100 million (£85m) to around €70 million (£60m) including add-ons, according to German outlet BILD. This revised valuation could prompt Arsenal to act swiftly.
As for Gyokeres, the situation is more complex. Negotiations with Sporting CP have stalled due to internal disagreements over the terms of his release. Despite these challenges, Portuguese outlet O Jogo reports that Arsenal have already reached a preliminary agreement with the player’s agent, Hasan Cetinkaya. The agreed fee is believed to be around €60 million plus €10 million in add-ons—roughly £60 million overall.
If either transfer materializes, Arsenal are expected to spend close to £70 million to secure a proven goal scorer.
Why Gyokeres Could Be the Perfect Partner for Saka
Bukayo Saka continues to be the most influential player in Arsenal’s squad. He contributed 12 goals and 14 assists last season, despite missing several months due to a hamstring injury. His absence was keenly felt, with Arsenal dropping points in five of the 12 league games he missed, and struggling to score more than twice in all but two of those matches.
Saka’s creative output remains unmatched. He led the Premier League last season in expected assists per 90 minutes (0.41), shot-creating actions per 90 (6.09), and goal-creating actions per 90 (1.20).
A prolific striker like Viktor Gyokeres could significantly enhance Arsenal’s attacking threat. The Swedish forward scored an extraordinary 54 goals in 52 matches last season, making him one of the most lethal strikers in European football. Journalist Alex Turk aptly described him as a “monster” in front of goal—a label that reflects both his physical presence and clinical finishing ability.
A partnership between Saka’s elite creativity and Gyokeres’ finishing could give Arsenal the firepower they lacked during key stretches last season. If the deal is finalized, it may prove to be the most important move of Arsenal’s summer window.