Talks with Sporting CP over Gyökeres have resumed after Arsenal failed to reach an agreement with RB Leipzig for Šeško. ..Continue Reading
Both forwards were on Arsenal’s radar, with Mikel Arteta determined to strengthen his attacking line ahead of the new season.
Throughout the window, the club’s attention has shifted between the two, but Gyökeres has now emerged as the top priority.
Arsenal are in advanced negotiations with Sporting, having already agreed personal terms with the Swedish striker, making a deal for Šeško increasingly unlikely.
According to reports, sporting director Andrea Berta stepped away from the Šeško pursuit due to Leipzig’s steep €90 million valuation and rigid payment demands.
Arsenal were reportedly €10 million short of Leipzig’s asking price, and the proposed structure of the deal didn’t sit well with the club’s hierarchy.
Additionally, discussions over personal terms with Šeško’s representatives proved difficult, prompting Arsenal to end talks altogether.
Šeško’s agent, Elvis Basanović, later commented on the situation, suggesting his client would have been the better fit for Arsenal and subtly criticized Gyökeres for pushing to leave Sporting.
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Basanović remarked, “Sesko isn’t competing with anyone.
“It’s him vs him every day. We have a clear plan for the future and media speculation doesn’t affect us. Sesko is not just a striker, he is a special striker.”
He added: “Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig. I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.
“I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests but no matter what, I believe in football world should be more respect. So that’s why we do things in the right way or we don’t do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”
Regardless of which striker Arsenal sign, Mikel Arteta is keen to get a deal done sooner than later.
