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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal's big striker dilemma answered as they pick between Gyokeres and Sesko
Arsenal's need for a new striker was one of the stories of the 2024-25 season, even before the man doing the job was ruled out for several months. Kai Havertz is not a natural number nine - even if he was doing a decent job of it - while Gabriel Jesus' second significant knee injury has only accelerated the need for investment in the area. Mikel Arteta's team scored 22 fewer goals this season than last. The idea that they're fine without a new striker was far easier to defend during the 2023-24 campaign, but now there appears to be a consensus that a new face is needed - and at significant cost. Whoever moves to Arsenal this summer will be a starting striker not just for this season but for the next few on top of that. And now we've got two names at the front of the queue: Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko. There's arguably no such thing as a 'sure thing' at number nine - at least not for clubs without a bottomless chequebook. Alexander Isak might be the closest there is to such a thing, but it would have been a tall order to convince Newcastle to sell the Swede even before they secured Champions League qualification and the extra funds that brings. And so, we move on to two men with significant upsides, but questions as well. Here, Mirror Football more closely examines which of Gyokeres would suit Arsenal the best. Gyokeres looks to be the better fit for a club after a player who can hit the ground running. The Sporting striker didn't just score goals in the Primeira Liga during his club's title defence - he left the rest of the competition in his dust. His 39 goals in the league were more than double his nearest challenger, and would put him in the top half of the entire league on his own. Even if you take out penalties - and his tally of 12 isn't insignificant - no one else got within 12 of the Sweden frontman. We can also acknowledge Gyokeres' form for Coventry before moving to Portugal. While the numbers aren't quite as eye-catching - 40 goals in all competitions across two seasons is fewer than in either of his individual campaigns with Sporting - it might offer some reassurances that he's unlikely to have issues settling back in England at the very least. If we want to look at Europe, where the opposition is stronger, you can appreciate why some still have questions. Yes, there was the stunning hat-trick against Manchester City, but that masks what has otherwise been a simply okay season. With six goals in the Champions League, he's the 13th highest scorer - not too shabby for a player in a team not considered one of the pre-tournament favourites. Still, the underlying numbers per 90 minutes are also worth analysing in a competition where players can play an unequal number of games. According to data from FBRef, he sneaks into the top 10 for expected goals per 90 minutes among players with 500 minutes or more, while he's outside that group for non-penalty expected goals. Among those ahead of him in the latter list, as it happens, is none other than Benjamin Sesko. Sesko, like Gyokeres, wasn't playing for a team expected to go too far in the competition. In fact, it ended up being an absolute nightmare campaign for his RB Leipzig team, who lost seven of their eight league phase games The Slovenia frontman has a return of 0.48 non-penalty xG per 90 - just a fraction above Gyokeres and the same as Inter Milan frontman Lautaro Martinez. All three men have scored goals at a better rate than those underlying numbers would suggest, with Martinez showing the most dramatic uptick of the three. It's too early in Sesko's career to predict whether he will consistently be able to outperform those numbers - something he's done with no trouble so far in the Bundesliga. What we do know, though, is he's been able to get good quality chances against decent opposition and managed to put them away at a pretty good rate. Arsenal's links with Sesko grew very loud at the end of the 2023-24 season, where he finished the campaign strongly in Leipzig colours. He has scored fewer goals from more minutes this term, from a slightly lower xG per 90 in the Bundesliga, but has improved his creation to the point that there are signs he could yet replace that aspect of Havertz's game. And therein lies the other big factor: potential. While Gyokeres' late bloomer status suggests he can still deliver for a while, he turns 27 in the summer and there will be questions of how much better he can become. Sesko, in contrast, is five years younger than the alternative and already putting up solid numbers in a top European league. Sure, it might not be the kind of numbers Erling Haaland was posting in the Bundesliga at the same age, but only eight players scored more than him in the competition this year - including Hugo Ekitike, who is being touted for a similar big-money Premier League move. In the end, it may come down to Arsenal's own priorities. If they see the upcoming season as win-or-bust in the league, it's hard to look past the 53 goals Gyokeres scored in all competitions and see it as their best chance of blowing the competition out of the water. Sesko may well feel like the better long-term option, but not only because of his age. There are plenty who have suggested he has a bigger upside than near enough any striker of his age, and there's a reason he had so many admirers even before leaving Red Bull Salzburg for his current club. Trusting potential is always more of a risk, especially when it involves looking at some very big Gyokeres numbers and convincing yourself they're not the be all and end all. Without the riches of their rivals, though, Arsenal have recognised the need to prioritise younger players as their marquee signings. The investment under Mikel Arteta in Arsenal's last couple of seasons has followed a pattern of big money on younger stars and speculative, cheaper moves for those in their late 20s or 30s. It's served them well, too, with Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber showing indications they can form the spine of the team for years to come. If Arsenal regard themselves as having the same needs they did in 2023, Sesko might be the answer. However, it's hard to look at Gyokeres and think "no, this is absolutely the wrong guy for a title push". Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal transfer twist as statement issued amid Chelsea boost
Arsenal and Chelsea both want to sign a striker in the summer transfer window and Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League Arsenal could get a clear run at Viktor Gyokeres after rivals Chelsea were given a huge boost in their pursuit of Liam Delap. Gyokeres' future is set to be one of the biggest stories of the summer transfer window which opens on Sunday. The Sporting Lisbon star has emerged as one of Europe's most in-demand strikers after scoring a sensational 54 goals in 52 games this season. Gyokeres, who turns 27 next week, fired Sporting to a league and cup double in Portugal, playing what could've been his final game for the Lisbon giants on Sunday. Mirror Football reported earlier this month that Arsenal had made Gyokeres their No.1 transfer target, willing to offer him a bumper deal. Sporting have indicated that £60million would be enough - but it's not just the Gunners who've been linked. London rivals Chelsea are also planning to sign a striker this summer, with the Sweden international on their radar. But Arsenal have been buoyed by developments at Stamford Bridge. Ipswich Town striker Delap is understood to have chosen to join Chelsea over long-time admirers Manchester United. The Blues are managed by Enzo Maresca, who Delap worked with at former club Manchester City, and will play in the Champions League next season, giving them the edge over United. How does Chelsea's move for Delap help Arsenal? Chelsea signing Delap doesn't completely rule them out of the race for Gyokeres - we all know how Todd Boehly loves stockpiling his assets - but given that they already have Nicolas Jackson, it's highly unlikely that the Blues would shell out £60m for Gyokeres plus the £30m which they'd spend on Delap by paying his release clause. Therefore, Arsenal are expected to have have one less competitor in the race to sign the 26-year-old. Chelsea could've offered him the same perks as the Guners, too: Premier League and Champions League football plus the chance to live in London. What have Sporting said? This week, Sporting vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha confirmed that the Primeira Liga champions are yet to receive any formal offers for Gyokeres. "He has three more years on his contract," Zenha reminded reports. "At the moment there are no offers, he has three more years on his contract. I think the answer has been given. [Sporting's transfer plans] won't be any different from last year. We want to keep the best players and retain talent. "We want to continue to be champions, have competitive teams and fight on all fronts. I have been in this role for seven years. In the years when Sporting were champions, we even made fewer sales than in other years... the fact that we are champions gives us a greater ability to retain players and talent. "Coincidence or not, we have not had to sell any players in those times. Not that we have not received offers, but the market is not under our control, we are always dependent." Has Gyokeres dropped any hints? After helping Sporting win the Taca de Portugal against bitter rivals Benfica on Sunday, Gyokeres was tight-lipped on his future. "Let's see, it's hard for me to say," the Swede replied when asked about his plans. "Because yeah, it is football and you never know what's going to happen in the summer. So for me to say anything else than that is impossible." Portuguese outlet A Bola claim that his girlfriend, Lisbon-born actress Ines Aguiar, 'promised' Sporting fans to do her upmost to convince Gyokeres to stay at Sporting for a third season. Meanwhile, his uncle, Chris, revealed that their family also want him to stay. "I'm super happy, this is amazing," Chris was quoted as saying after the cup final. "We were here last year, it's the same spirit, the same people, the same atmosphere. Absolutely fantastic! Beyond words!" Asked if the Gyokeres family felt a connection to Lisbon, Chris responded: "Yes, very much... yesterday at dinner we decided that he has to stay." And when asked if the ex-Coventry star would stay, he tellingly replied: "Yes, we think so." Those comments were later put to Gyokeres, who said: "They [his family] really like Portugal; I think they want to be here and enjoy the city, the good weather, and all the atmosphere."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal and Man Utd in no doubt over Gyokeres transfer after family messages
Viktor Gyokeres' family have spoken out on the striker's future after he concluded another triumphant campaign at Sporting Lisbon, with Arsenal and Manchester United chasing his signature Arsenal and Manchester United fans are buzzing at the prospect of Viktor Gyokeres joining their ranks this summer. And certain members of his inner circle have already given some considerable clues concerning his transfer fate. The ex-Coventry star has thrived since joining Sporting Lisbon almost two years ago, having signed for the club under current United boss Ruben Amorim. Gyokeres has propelled the Lions to back-to-back Primeira Liga triumphs and topped the scoring charts in both campaigns, bagging an impressive 54 goals in all competitions this term. Sporting's dramatic comeback to secure a 3-1 victory over Benfica and lift the Taca de Portugal saw the Swede bag a pivotal 101st-minute penalty that forced extra time. Partner Ines Aguiar was at the game and found herself swamped by eager fans, all desperate for a scoop on her beau's future. Amid the frenzy, Lisbon-born actress Aguiar reportedly assured the clamouring crowd and media that he would be staying put, according to A Bola, as she "promised" to do her utmost to convince him to commit to a third season with Sporting. The sway of a significant other can't be underestimated when it comes to transfers, but the Emirates has some significant edge over Old Trafford in terms of its current allure. Arsenal will return to Champions League contention next term, while United's fall to Tottenham in the Europa League final means they won't play European football of any kind. The Gunners reportedly entered discussions with Gyokeres' agent this week after Correio da Manha said representatives had jetted to Lisbon. Mikel Arteta caught criticism for failing to add another forward to his ranks last summer, but appears to be on the front foot in correcting that error this time around. Meanwhile, Gyokeres' uncle, Chris, dished the details on his nephew's future during a chat with the media ahead of the Taca de Portugal final. He divulged the Gyokeres family met up for dinner the night before, where the star's transfer future was a hot topic. And Uncle Chris wasn't shy about sharing his views from that discussion, albeit perhaps with a pinch of personal bias. Since Gyokeres settled into life at Estadio Jose Alvalade in 2023, his relatives have come to love Lisbon, and Chris went so far as to say the family agreed their golden child should continue calling the city his home. "Yes, very much," he told when asked if he and the family felt a connection to Lisbon. "Yesterday at dinner, we decided that he has to stay." The desires of Gyokeres' family won't concern Arsenal or United as much as the player's intentions, given that he will make the final decision. The Red Devils have at least one edge, given Amorim's shared history with the player, but United are no longer the same attraction they once were. And in fact the team may have already accepted defeat in the race amid word United seem close to bagging Wolves forward Matheus Cunha for £62.5million. Premier League rivals Chelsea are also understood to be eyeing a move for Gyokeres and can offer the Champions League football he'd desire. Sporting don't appear to be in a rush to sell their prized asset, believed to be on the market for £60m. At a recent press event set up by Radio Renascenca's Bola Branca, vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha provided some clarity on the matter. "Gyokeres? He has three more years on his contract," he said. "At the moment, there are no offers. He has three more years on his contract. I think the answer has been given."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Premier League 2024-25 review: flops of the season
Ruben Amorim's average points tally of a point per league game since arriving at Manchester United in early November puts him just above Malky Mackay's record at Cardiff and Paul Jewell's Premier League record with Bradford, Wigan and Derby. While Sporting won the Primeira Liga title without Amorim, United have fallen down the table to 15th since the Portuguese took the reins from the interim coach, Ruud van Nistelrooy. Much of the ire towards United has been directed at the owners but on the pitch Amorim has failed to adapt his squad of expensive, experienced internationals into anything approaching a cohesive unit. The Europa League final defeat by Tottenham showed how much work is left to do. Those defending Amorim will point out he has not got the personnel to fit his preferred 3-4-3 (although the £25m January signing Patrick Dorgu has largely been underwhelming), that he has not had a pre-season to train his players properly and that United's run to the Europa League final mitigates their league performances. After more than six months of underachievement, none of this really stacks up. To be this bad in a team this good has been an impressive feat for Federico Chiesa. That the 27-year-old was given his first Premier League start only this month against Brighton, when Liverpool had wrapped up the title, shows what little faith Arne Slot has had in the Italian. 'He did even more than I can expect from him,' said Slot, somewhat awkwardly, after that visit to the Amex, when Chiesa spluttered as a false 9, lacking the physicality to play centrally, miscontrolling simple passes out for throw-ins and miskicking the only shot he attempted. Injury and fitness issues plagued the first part of Chiesa's season but he has not done enough to deserve more minutes. The Italian's ACL injury in 2022 has taken a physical and mental toll. Juventus obviously knew something the rest of us didn't when they sold him for £10m last summer. This is the second successive season when the three promoted sides have been relegated. There is a wider systemic issue about the growing gulf between the top two tiers but Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton are not without blame. Southampton, having gained promotion in the playoff final, narrowly avoided registering the lowest Premier League points total; the club's failure to realise that Russell Martin's expansive tactics were not compatible with the lack of Premier League quality and nous in the squad was fatal and their appointment of Ivan Juric a disaster. Similarly at Leicester, managerial changes disrupted their season: they were disappointed to see Enzo Maresca join Chelsea after winning the Championship but were outside the relegation zone when Steve Cooper was sacked in November. The board must shoulder most of the responsibility alongside whoever greenlit the £20m move for Oliver Skipp (no significant injuries but seven league starts before Leicester's relegation was confirmed; no goals, no assists). That Ipswich spent more than £120m on signings and finished above only Saints is not a great look, with only Liam Delap looking likely to return any sort of profit on those investments. The pressure will be on Ipswich to bounce straight back but they will be buoyed that most of the squad and Kieran McKenna look likely to stay. No, this isn't a critique of a sudden outbreak of champagne socialism in west London but an appraisal of Chelsea's remarkable ability to collect a litany of expensive and woefully ineffective superstars on their left flank. There are few with more raw talent than João Félix or Jadon Sancho but they have been ineffective at best and dire at their worst. Both are 25 and supposedly in their prime but Félix registered one goal and one assist in 12 Premier League games before being bumped off on loan to Milan in February – less than six months after signing on a seven-year contract for about £45m. Although Sancho has lasted the entirety of his season's loan, his return of three goals and four assists in 31 league matches isn't much better. Chelsea will have to pay Manchester United £5m this summer if they opt not to sign Sancho permanently for about £25m, which is quite the decision. It could have been even worse for Chelsea had they not managed to convince Arsenal to take Raheem Sterling on loan. Sterling and Félix will return in the summer and they, along with Christopher Nkunku, leave Chelsea in a bind again over how to deal with their expensive errors of the recent past. Up to the beginning of January, last season's Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Association player of the year scored one goal and provided one assist in 14 league appearances for Manchester City. Since the end of January, Foden has started six league matches: goalless draws at Southampton and Manchester United, three defeats against Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and Liverpool and a win over Newcastle. He has clearly not been himself and spoke after the FA Cup final about playing with ankle pain for the past couple of months and dealing with things off the pitch, saying: 'It's been a frustrating season. I've had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. Sometimes there's things in life bigger than football. This season I've struggled a little bit.' We wish him a speedy recovery and a return to his best form. With Kevin De Bruyne departing, will City find a replacement in Morgan Gibbs-White or Eberechi Eze or trust Foden again? Next season could be the biggest of Foden's career.
Metro
5 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Arsenal eyeing Bayern Munich transfer target as alternative to 'dream signing'
Arsenal have added Kaoru Mitoma to their transfer shortlist and are weighing up a move for the Brighton winger as an alternative to their 'dream signing' Rodrygo. The Gunners faced widespread criticism after failing to bring in a proven No.9 last summer and the decision appeared to cost Mikel Arteta's side, who once again finished the season trophyless. Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as Arsenal's top centre-forward target for the upcoming window, with the Sporting sensation scoring 39 goals across a remarkable Primeira Liga campaign. It's understood the north Londoners are preparing a bumper contract offer to fend off Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to capture the prolific Swede. However, Arsenal's transfer ambitions, spearheaded by newly appointed sporting director Andrea Berta, do not stop there, with the club also keen to bolster their options out wide. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Rafael Leao and Nico Williams have both been tentatively linked, while Real Madrid's Rodrygo has reportedly been sounded out over a proposed move to the Emirates this summer. According to Sky Deutschland's Florian Plettenberg, Brighton's Mitoma is another player who has been discussed as Berta and his team assess profiles and candidates on the flank. Arsenal are not alone with their interest in Mitoma, though, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich also eyeing a move for the 28-year-old Japan international. Recent reports emanating out of Germany indicated it would likely cost around €40-45million (£33.5-38m) to prise Mitoma away from the Amex Stadium. It's claimed Rodrygo is Arsenal's 'dream signing' in this position, but striking a deal could prove tricky given the Brazilian's wage demands. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Mitoma's current contract on the south coast runs through to June 2027. More Trending Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr had an offer rejected by the Seagulls for Mitoma in January – after which, Fabian Hurzeler admitted he was pleased to still have the winger at his disposal. 'I'm pleased [he is still here],' the Brighton head coach told reporters. 'But I think he's also pleased that he's playing for Brighton because he also knows what he gets from us and he knows that he can develop here. 'He showed his commitment from the first day. He was never asked in the club to respond to that offer. So we showed an impressive reaction beside and on the pitch.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Ex-Arsenal star Tomas Rosicky taken to intensive care with 'heart-related issues' MORE: Liverpool make first official bid for Florian Wirtz after Bayer Leverkusen talks MORE: Marcus Rashford drops major hint over his future in emotional message to Aston Villa fans
