HERE WE GO! Arsenal reached agreement to sign £102m Striker as the superstar agrees to join the Gunners on Six-years deal
Arsenal are now in the planning phase of their preparations for next season, with pre-season still weeks away.
The Gunners stars will now be off on holiday, while Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta will be putting their heads together to come up with a list of targets ahead of the former jetting off for some holiday time of his own.
Arsenal are going to need to strengthen in a number of areas this summer and it could prove to be pricey off-season. As the planning steps up, we have rounded up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding the Emirates Stadium.
Sesko price tag blow
Arsenal have reportedly hit a price tag snag in their bid to land a striker this summer. The Gunners are on the lookout for a new frontman this summer, and they do have some options, with Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and others being linked.
In the case of Sesko, it’s clear Arteta is a big fan of the RB Leipzig frontman, who has the ability to get plenty involved in build-up play, something that suits the way Arsenal play. For months it has been reported that Arsenal would move for Sesko this summer, but the reports always suggested that the striker would cost somewhere between £60million and £70million. But reports are now claiming that Sesko is valued at £92.2million by Leipzig this summer, and that could well change things for the Gunners, who are likely to have a number of cheaper options.
Kubo interest
Arsenal are said to be interested in a deal to sign Real Sociedad winger Take Kubo. The Gunners are already expected to sign La Real midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and they are now tipped to make a move for one of his teammates. Arsenal also need a winger this summer, and it’s claimed Kubo could be a target, with the Japan international having been a consistent performer since leaving Real Madrid for the Basque club in a similar path to Martin Odegaard.
Kubo is believed to have a release clause forth £50.3million, and if Real Sociedad allow the winger to leave for less than that, it won’t be much less. Kubo is still only 23 years of age, and he is under contract until 2029.
Henry criticised Arteta
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes Mikel Arteta has underachieved at Arsenal by not winning silverware in recent years. “I’m not saying that I’m disappointed with Arsenal, but it’s normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing,” Henry told the Stick to Football podcast. “I understand that at the very beginning you arrive and it’s not your team. You need at the very least three or four transfer windows to change everything that you want to.
“It takes time and you have to give a manager time to be able to implement what he wants to do. For the last three years Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought one cup or [reached] a final.
“Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at – whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they’ve not reached a final. So I do understand when people ask the question: ‘Surely you should compete for a trophy?”
