SETTABLOID

Arsenal supporters are starting to get excited about the potential of signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig this summer. The Gunners are in the market for a new striker in the summer transfer window, and Sesko has emerged as a leading candidate to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Slovenian striker scored 18 goals in 42 games last season for the Bundesliga outfit, laying on just two assists. That shows his emphasis is more on putting the ball in the back of the net, something Arsenal are looking for this summer, despite having bagged 91 goals in the Premier League in 2023/24.

Sesko has a release clause of £55million, but Arsenal face competition from London rivals Chelsea for his signature this summer. Mikel Arteta wants to get deals done early in the window, but with Sesko on international duty with Slovenia, that looks more and more difficult to do.

Slovenia will take part in Euro 2024 this summer, with the competition starting on Friday, June 14. And Arsenal fans will get a good look at the striker in action if they’re following England at the tournament.

Slovenia have been paired in the same group as the Three Lions, alongside Denmark and Serbia too – a former transfer target in Dusan Vlahovic is in their ranks at the tournament.

So when will Sesko be in action for his country? Slovenia’s first game will be against Denmark on Sunday, June 16, with a 2pm kick-off.

That gives Arteta, technical director Edu and all of the Arsenal fans a first chance to see Sesko in action and find out just what he is capable of, if you’ve not been watching the Bundesliga this season.

Sesko and Slovenia then face Serbia on Thursday, June 20 at 2pm, with the final group game against England on Tuesday, June 25 at 8pm. There he will come up against potential Arsenal teammates Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.

A striker on the radars of both Arsenal and Manchester United will not be moving to the Emirates or Old Trafford, with Fabrizio Romano revealing which club are primed to activate the player’s sizeable release clause.

Both Man Utd and Arsenal are on the hunt for a new striker this summer. The Premier League heavyweights have drawn links with all manner of frontmen after casting their nets far and wide.

The Gunners enjoyed great success fielding Kai Havertz up front in the second half of the season. However, there remained a feeling that Arsenal might have toppled Manchester City and lifted their first Premier League title in 20 years if boasting a 20-goal-per-season striker for the full campaign.

What’s more, Havertz proved he can operate in a box-to-box midfield role anyway, meaning there’ll still be a place for the Germany international if and when a new striker arrives.

Man Utd, meanwhile, are seeking viable competition for Rasmus Hojlund. The Dane blew hot and cold in his maiden season in England and with Anthony Martial leaving as a free agent, another option is required.

One player both clubs have explored the signing of is Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee.

The towering centre-forward stands at 6ft 4in tall and bagged 16 goal contributions in 34 Serie A matches for Bologna last season.

The 23-year-old Dutchman joined Bologna from Bayern Munich two years ago. Bayern have a buy-back clause in Zirkzee’s deal, though after signing Harry Kane, have little need to activate it.

Zirkzee’s contract with Bologna also contains a release clause worth €40m/£34m.

Zirkzee would represent a fine addition to Arsenal or United, though according to numerous sources including transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, both sides will miss out.

Taking to X, Romano revealed AC Milan have informed Bologna they are about to activate Zirkzee’s release clause.

Of course, Man Utd or Arsenal could follow suit and trigger the clause too, though it appears certain Zirkzee is destined for the San Siro.

Zirkzee greenlights AC Milan move

Indeed, Romano added Zirkzee is “super keen” on joining the new project at Milan and is more than content to remain in Italy.

“AC Milan informed Bologna that they are planning to trigger €40m release clause for Joshua Zirzkee,” wrote Romano.

“Talks now ongoing between AC Milan and Zirkzee’s camp to agree on personal terms, crucial point.

“Zirzkee, happy to stay in Italy and super keen on AC Milan project.”

Who will Arsenal, Man Utd sign instead?

With Zirkzee soon to be off the table, Arsenal and Man Utd must fix their gaze elsewhere.

The Gunners are on the trail of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko who like Zirkzee, can be bought through a release clause. The magic number in that case is €65m/£55.5m.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sesko is also being monitored at Man Utd. Chelsea are another to show interest in the 21-year-old Slovenian.

The full lists of who Arsenal and Man Utd have been linked with in the No 9 position can be found below…

Arsenal’s transfer machinery is buzzing with activity as they reportedly consider a move for Girona’s standout winger, Viktor Tsyhankov. The 26-year-old has caught the eye of several top clubs across Europe, including AC Milan, Bayern Munich, and Tottenham, but it’s the Gunners under Mikel Arteta’s stewardship that appear most keen.

Tsyhankov’s Stellar Season Sparks Interest

Having moved to Girona in January 2023 for a modest €5 million, Tsyhankov has quickly established himself as a pivotal figure in the team. This season, he has impressively netted eight goals and provided seven assists, playing a crucial role in Girona’s unexpected rise to third in LaLiga, securing their inaugural Champions League qualification.

Before his Spanish adventure, Tsyhankov enjoyed a prolific stint at Dynamo Kiev, where he scored 94 goals in 236 appearances. His performances in Spain have only bolstered his reputation, making him a hot property in this summer’s transfer market.

Tsyhankov Opens Up About Transfer Possibilities

Despite the mounting speculation, Tsyhankov remains grounded about his future. He recently expressed his openness to new challenges, while also showing contentment at Girona. “All players dream big, they want to play in big clubs, top leagues. I’m not unique in this,” he told Spanish newspaper AS. “Since I was young I wanted to play at a high level and of course I like that there are important clubs in Europe looking out for me. I don’t really know what will happen. In football anything can happen.”

He added, “Maybe I was able to play my last game, but I don’t know what will happen to my future. Girona has given me a lot and I am very grateful. Furthermore, my family is very happy here and I am very comfortable. If I’m still here in Girona, perfect, because I’m very happy and I enjoy what I do. If in the end the future says that I have to leave, I want to do it through the front door.”

Strategic Moves Ahead of Euro 2024

With the European Championships on the horizon, where Tsyhankov will represent Ukraine in a challenging Group E, his performances could further enhance his appeal. Potential suitors, including Arsenal, might look to secure his services before the tournament kicks off to avoid escalated asking prices post-tournament.

Arsenal’s interest in Tsyhankov aligns with their ambitious plans to reinforce their squad after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title last season. With Arteta at the helm, Arsenal is keen on adding quality and depth to their squad, and Tsyhankov, with his blend of experience and skill, fits the bill perfectly.

As the summer transfer window approaches, the Arsenal faithful will be eager to see if Tsyhankov will be the next big name to adorn the red and white at the Emirates Stadium.

AC Milan have taken a key step towards getting a deal done for the signature of Arsenal linked attacker Joshua Zirkzee,

Zirkzee has been expected to leave Bologna this summer due to interest from a wide array of football clubs across Europe.

He has been closely tracked by Arsenal, who are in the market to bring in a forward in the upcoming transfer window.

However, it appears AC Milan are set to steal a march on everyone in their pursuit of the forward this summer.

It has been claimed that the Rossoneri have delivered a key message to Bologna about their intentions regarding the Dutchman.

AC Milan have informed their fellow Serie A club that they are ready to trigger the €40m release clause in Zirkzee’s contract.

Talks are ongoing between the Serie A giants and Zirkzee’s representatives as they look to finalise personal terms on a contract.

The Dutchman is happy to stay in Italy and is keen on being part of the AC Milan project this summer.

Declan Rice has been at Arsenal for a single season but stands out already as one of the most successful signings in recent memory. The £105million price tag is barely spoken about, which is an indication in itself that the move has been a good one – when you think about how often Nicolas Pepe’s fee is brought up in transfer chats it provides all the context you need.

However, what it has done is set an incredibly high bar for future deals and an expectation that Arsenal are now in the bracket of clubs able to spend these three-figure million-pound deals. football.londonunderstands however that a move for a player in the same price bracket this summer is unlikely barring a significant exodus of players generating a sizeable amount of incoming funds.

That said, the England international remains the fulcrum of the Arsenal midfield alongside Martin Odegaard. There is still a remaining space to fill which last season saw three players operate in the role: Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz and Jorginho.

Were Partey and Jorginho to play, Rice would tend to push forwards. Havertz’s inclusion however saw him drop to the number six position which many fans expected him to occupy throughout the season but Partey’s injury changed that.

Going into this summer window, Rice’s impressive form has opened the doors for Arteta and sporting director Edu to have greater freedom when it comes to making a decision on the midfield signing. Whereas before it looked like a box-to-box midfielder was the main focus, instead they can look at potential number sixes like Martin Zubimendi, Amadou Onana and to some degree Bruno Guimaraes.

However, they can also look at the likes of Guimaraes as an eight with Rice playing the six. Joao Neves and Youssouf Fofana too have been considered.

The challenge remains finding the right player to take the position forwards. When you’re in a place where a title race is the expectation season on season, investments cannot be mistakes.

Although the likes of Manchester City can drop more than £40million on Kalvin Phillips which in retrospect looks like quite an expensive mistake, it hasn’t impacted them whatsoever. If Arsenal drop £40million-plus on a player and get it wrong the difference is major.

Fabio Vieira at £34million has looked like the biggest financial investment error under Arteta. Havertz threatened to take that crown but has won over the majority with his move into the forward line and his goals in key games throughout the season.

The same can be said for any position this summer, not just midfield. To close that consistently decreasing gap to Man City, the transfer strategy cannot miss and once again Edu and the ownership are under pressure to see it through.