“Either they sign him or I resign as a manager ”: Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta has promised to resign if the club fails to sign £116million aggressive striker
Arsenal might not have completed a transfer this summer, but the window is starting to come together in a promising way for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Having prioritised the signing of a striker, the Gunners are leading the way for Benjamin Sesko after FootballTransfers revealed that a breakthrough has been made in talks with RB Leipzig this week.
On top of this, they are also well placed to sign Sporting CP hitman Viktor Gyokeres, giving Arteta options in that area of the field.
The Spaniard has been given good reason to push for Sesko, though.
FootballTransfers has previously detailed that Arsenal may move for two strikers should funds allow it, and now news for Germany means that the Emirates club would be advised to push the boat out to secure a double deal.
Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri has revealed the door has been opened for Lois Openda to leave the club. It is reported that he wants a new challenge. Crucially, he could be available for around €60 million.
Given Openda has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €59.3m, Leipzig’s price tag appears entirely fair.
Why Arsenal should move for Openda
The 25-year-old Belgium international, who has scored 73 goals across the last four league seasons while also providing 20 assists, would fit neatly into Arteta’s plans, according to data analytics firm SciSports.
According to the company’s Career Advice program, Openda has a Club Fit score of 79 for Arsenal. This is based around a variety of metrics, including potential development, playing time, playing style and formation. Only Roma (85) and Aston Villa (83) score higher than the Gunners.
Of course, with Sesko at the Emirates, Openda would instantly become a more effective striker and would, crucially, give Arteta and Arsenal more flexibility upfront. Not only could he act as a replacement for the Slovenia international, he could play together in a two, plus he has the capacity to fill in wide at a pinch.
Clearly, this won’t be a priority deal for Arsenal, but it could be a smart move if everything falls into place elsewhere.
