Arsenal are the most likely to upgrade Viktor Gyokeres or a German Bundesliga centre-forward this summer, according to trusted journalist David Ornstein.
Mikel Arteta’s current first-choice striker is Gabriel Jesus, who signed for Manchester City in July 2022. This season, Jesus has scored 8 goals and five assists in 26 games in all competitions.
However, the Brazilian could soon be replaced by a new top-level No. 9. Arteta has suggested the Arsenal hierarchy to sign an elite striker who can compete with City’s Erling Haaland and take his team to the next level.
Not only is Jesus unreliable when it comes to scoring 20 or more goals per season, but he has also been sidelined due to various injuries this season.
The striker Arsenal have been most connected with over the past six months is Brentford’s Ivan Toney, but the Gunners appear to be moving away from the Englishman towards other options.
Ornstein has now named RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting ace CP Gyokeres as the strikers Arteta is evaluating lately. Meanwhile, Napoli star Victor Osimhen and Toney do not appear to be arriving in the Emirates this summer.
In his latest Q&A for The Athletic, Ornstein asked how Arsenal’s search for strikers is going. He replied: “As with most clubs and positions on the pitch, there will be different personal tastes internally and Arsenal will want to succeed in a company consensus before moving forward. I’m not aware of it yet, but it’s pretty general at the moment.
“Declan Rice is an exception because he’s the first unanimous pick and the top target. There will be many points and variables at play in the decision.
“As has been said in the past and widely documented, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are admired. So is Evan Ferguson, but the value Brighton would need and the season he’s had would probably make him less likely at the moment.
“I don’t see it being Victor Osimhen or Ivan Toney. I’ve noticed Alexander Isak connected and Arsenal attacked him in the past, but I don’t have any information on that at the moment. .
“Isn’t it that Arsenal also have other positions to consider; a midfielder, a substitute for the forwards, in all likelihood a left-back, a substitute goalkeeper in the event of Aaron Ramsdale’s departure?
“A lot of this will be decided through finance, and therefore what they manage to reap from their games will have a significant effect on what they will be able to spend. I’m not saying that’s the case. It’s a “sell before you buy” scenario, but, as with many clubs, you have to balance the books.
Ornstein then asked if Arsenal would increase their interest in Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, valued at £80 million. However, it looks like the Belgian could move elsewhere this summer.
“I’m sure Onana appreciates something at Arsenal and elsewhere, but I’m not sure it suits his profile or value range,” he added.
“At No. 6, we know that Arteta likes Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi (and there will be others). If they opt for a number 8, there will also be several options. I don’t see that happening.