Mikel Arteta has seen his true Arsenal transfer priority laid bare once again as the Gunners aim to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2024/25 season. As football.london has reported already, strengthening in midfield is the main aim despite interest in Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
Emirates Stadium was seen as Sesko’s likely destination if he chose to leave RB Leipzig however the young striker chose to sign a new contract. With that decision confirmed ahead of Euro 2024, no major links to other forwards emerged as the Sesko interest was seen as an excellent market opportunity.
However, that seemingly changed with transfer links to Sporting CP’s Gyokeres ramping up significantly. According to Portuguese outlet Leonino, the Gunners are ‘very close to securing the signing of Viktor Gyokeres’ with just some financial matters to resolve.
Whether or not there is truth to that, Arteta and Edu are still eyeing midfield reinforcements with Amadou Onana, Youssouf Fofana and Martin Zubimendi among those linked. With the expectation that Thomas Partey departs, Arsenal know they need to add depth in midfield but there is another position where recruiting is more important.
Bukayo Saka has been an integral part of Arsenal’s rise but it is clear that he needs some help. Having missed just three Premier League games, the 22-year-old played close to 4,000 minutes with it clear from his England displays at the European championships, he is burning out.
While he has shown glimpses of his ability, one right-sided winger that has caught the eye in Germany is Nico Williams. Having starred in Spain’s two victories against Croatia and Italy, the Athletic Bilbao star, who is said to have a release clause in the region of £55million, is attracting significant transfer interest.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked, though there is an option better suited to what Arteta wants from his wingers. Last summer, Mohamed Kudus was the talk of the town with Brighton joining the two London clubs in chasing his signature before he ultimately joined West Ham.
The 23-year-old showed exactly why he was wanted at London Stadium with a debut season that saw him score 14 goals, pick up six assists and lift supporters of their seats in most games. Actually agreeing a deal though is where the challenge lies with West Ham unlikely to even entertain offers having acquired his services just 12 months ago.
However, the reality is that mid-table Premier League clubs cannot compete with the traditional ‘big six’ financially and as such Kudus receiving serious interest from Europe’s elite, which now includes Arsenal, is inevitable.
With Kudus a starting XI regular at the Hammers, settling for more of a squad role may be a challenge, but the need for two quality options in every position is vital for Arsenal in their battle for domestic dominance with Manchester City. Alongside that, if anyone can convince Kudus of his importance to the Arsenal squad it certainly is Arteta with the Gunners boss winning transfer battles for all of last summer’s signings.
