Arsenal are working on deals to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad, with the most important area to resolve being the attack.
Sporting director Andrea Berta is already close to completing a handful of deals, but none that represent an imminent attacking signing.
Martin Zubimendi is set to complete his transfer in the coming days, with Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard expected to follow.
While from the outside, Arsenal appear to be no closer to striking an agreement with a new forward, Berta is working on two deals in particular.
Viktor Gyokeres has been in talks with Berta as a possible new number nine, and he’s not the only one, as Arsenal admire Benjamin Sesko.
German media issue Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal transfer update
Gyokeres is desperate to leave Sporting CP, with Arsenal emerging as the Sweden international’s preference.
There has been a different stance with Sesko, as the player’s contract demands were reported to be a problem, but there’s no confirmation on whether it could impact a deal from being struck.
The RB Leipzig talisman has been making the headlines in Germany, as renowned sports outlet BILD just questioned Arsenal’s desire to sign the Slovenian.
In a report titled, ‘Does Arsenal not want Leipzig striker Sesko at all?’, the Gunners’ interest in the 22-year-old was outlined.
BILD claim that there has been ‘no movement’ on the transfer ‘for weeks’, despite Arteta being a ‘huge fan’ of the striker’s profile.
The subject of the report then turned to Gyokeres, who is understood to be Berta’s preference.
BILD notes that the players could be as expensive as each other, but believe that Gyokeres’ experience could sway the Gunners to look in his direction.
It’s known that Arteta admires Sesko, and it’s thought that the Slovenia international is the Arsenal manager’s top choice.
Ultimately, BILD report what Arsenal fans all want to know: who really is Arsenal’s preference?
Andrea Berta’s transfer plan is working
From the outside, the situation regarding both players appears to be up in the air and uncoordinated, but the reality paints a largely different picture.
Berta is known for pursuing more than one target at once, and in that regard, BILD’s report signals that the sporting director’s master plan is working.
BBC journalist Sami Mokbel recently commented on how Berta operates when featuring on the Latte Firm podcast.
“There is an element of spinning plates there, and Andrea Berta is actually quite renowned for that,” Mokbel explained.
“From people that I speak to, having seen him operate in Spain when he was at Atletico, he’s quite renowned for having a number of deals on the go at once and then going ‘bang’ going to do that one.
“Almost having them play out in public just so it helps with the deal that he actually wants to do, he can use it as leverage.”
When taking this into consideration, Berta has the media and both targets right where he wants them, making the transfer saga all the more fascinating.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
