Arsenal to make call on Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres ‘once two things are established’

Arsenal will reportedly establish the financial framework for both deals before making a decision on whether to bring Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

The transfer window, which opened on Sunday, has seen the Gunners heavily linked with both players as they look to finally sign a much-needed striker. Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta is understood to have held discussions with representatives of both Gyokeres and Sesko as he looks to find Mikel Arteta the prolific forward he’s so clearly lacked.

Sesko is coming off the back of his best Bundesliga season, having scored 21 goals across all competitions. Gyokeres enjoyed an even more stellar campaign, scoring 54 goals for Sporting CP and securing a domestic double.

BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel has now added to the confusion over which player the north Londoners are prioritising by saying the club are fully establishing the financial frameworks of deals for either player, before then making a final decision on which to sign.

The report suggests that Sesko might be the favoured option from a footballing perspective, stating that a move for the Slovenian has “near-universal backing” at Arsenal. Sesko is the younger striker at 22 and plays in a more competitive league, according to their recruitment data.

However, it also noted that Sesko could command a fee as high as £93million, making him the pricier option of the two.

Gyokeres, 27, is a more cost-effective signing at around £60m. His lower price tag could well end up being the deciding factor for Arsenal.

Sesko, who turned down a move to Arsenal last summer, has been on Arteta’s radar long before Berta took over as sporting director earlier this year. It’s understood that RB Leipzig are keen to offload him this window in order to bolster their finances.

Meanwhile, Gyokeres’ unwillingness to rule out a move to north London suggests there might be some interest from the player in a return to English football, having had spells at both Brighton and Coventry City.

In a recent guest appearance on the Flymoduspod podcast, the Swede was quizzed by host Bernt Hulsker: “Where are you going in the summer transfer window? Can you give us a hint? Is it Arsenal? What are the alternatives?”

Gyokeres chuckled before responding: “We will see. Nobody knows anything yet. I wish I had a more fun answer, but that’s all I can say for now.”

Later in the conversation, as he was saying goodbye to his former team-mate, Leo Ostigard added with a hint of jest: “Viktor! Great talking to you. See you soon, and text me when everything is signed and sorted down in Arsenal.” Gyokeres jokingly replied: “Yeah, yeah sure.”

Gyokeres was asked by the media last month whether he liked London as a destination during a post-match interview. He sidestepped the question and expressed his fondness for the Portuguese capital instead.

If Arteta and Berta decide not to sign Sesko, they’ll need to act swiftly to secure Gyokeres. Reports from Portugal claim Atletico Madrid might also be in the running for the Sporting superstar’s signature.