Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta could now look to hijack Liverpool’s move for a “world-class” star, who is valued at £85m, according to a report.
Gary Neville urges Arteta to sign new striker
Teams have been successful without out-and-out strikers in the past, with Gary Neville highlighting Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City pre-Erling Haaland as examples, but the Sky Sports pundit has urged Mikel Arteta to sign a new centre-forward this summer.
Neville said: “To not have a recognised striker in the squad: Kai Havertz is half a striker, Gabriel Jesus is half a striker – they can play there. But they do need one or two other forwards who can really be people who can play and lead that line.”
It certainly appears as though Arteta plans to finally pull the trigger on a new striker, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres among the most talked-about potential targets, fresh off the back of impressive campaigns.
|
Player |
Benjamin Sesko |
Viktor Gyokeres |
|
League appearances |
33 |
33 |
|
Goals |
13 |
39 |
However, according to a report from BILD (via Sport Witness), Berta is now considering alternative options, given that progress is slow, and a Liverpool target has now entered the frame.
The striker in question is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, with the report stating Berta could now look to hijack their Premier League rivals’ deal for the 23-year-old, but a deal is likely to be on the expensive side.
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The German club are thought to be holding out for a fee of £85m, which means a deal for the Frenchman would be more costly than Sesko or Gyokeres. Consequently, the former Paris Saint-Germain man is unlikely to be viewed as a priority target.
“World-class” Ekitike could be ideal Sesko alternative
It has previously been revealed that Sesko is Arteta’s preferred striker target, but there are signs that Ekitike could be an ideal alternative option, given the level of his performances in the Bundesliga last season.
The 23-year-old outperformed the Slovenian in front of goal, finding the back of the net 15 times, while also registering eight assists, leading to him being dubbed as “world-class” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
The Frankfurt star is also just one year older than Sesko, meaning he could be a long-term solution for Arsenal in attack, while Gyokeres is considerably older than the Bundesliga duo, having recently turned 27.
The only thing that may deter Arsenal from making a move is Ekitike’s huge price tag, with a fee of £85m far too high for a striker yet to prove himself at the top level over a consistent period, but he could be a solid signing if Frankfurt lower their demands.
